Frances Fern Bishop

Service Time: 10:00 A.M.
Day and Date: Thursday, December 6, 2007
Location: First Congregational Church of Russell, Kansas
Visitation and Guest Book Registration: 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, December 5.  Family present 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Wednesday evening.
Burial: Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas
Memorial to: First Congrgational Church

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Frances Fern Bishop, 85, of Russell , Kansas , died on December 2, 2007 at her home in Russell. She was born Frances Fern Morgenstern on September 25, 1922 in Galatia , Kansas , the daughter of Edward and Minnie (Boxberger) Morgenstern.

Frances grew up in the Galatia area and attended District 95 a one-room school house. In 1940, she and her family moved to Russell and she has lived in Russell for over 67 years. In 1941 she moved away from her family for the first and only time and lived in Wichita to attend the Venus Academy of Beauty in order to become a beautician. She was united in marriage to Harold L. Bishop on June 17, 1943 in Russell. He preceded her in death on June 23, 1993. From this union, Frances and Harold were blessed with six children, daughters Rilla, Myra , Janet, Teresa and sons Tracy and Hal. Being a beautician was a fitting career for Frances given she had an artistic eye with an engaging and warm personality. She continued to work all her life up until the last few weeks before she became ill and was too weak to work.

She will also be known by her family and friends as a caring woman with a bright and loving smile who was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.

She was a dedicated and active member of the First Congregational Church of Russell and was active in the church Women’s Guild. She was a member of the V.F.W. Post #6240 Ladies Auxiliary, Order of the Eastern Star and Red Hat Society. Frances was very passionate about three things; gardening, bowling and most of all her family. She had a wonderful green thumb and could often be found tending her garden which she called “My Serenity Place”. She also loved bowling and was a local and national championship bowler traveling all over Kansas and the nation to bowl in tournaments. Probably her greatest passion was spending time with her family and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren who all will miss her deeply.

She is survived by her daughters Rilla Dietz and husband LaVerne of Russell, Myra Mitchell and husband Bob of Issaquah, Washington, Janet Tomon of Oak Park, California and Teresa Joplin and husband Randy of Scottsdale, Arizona; sons Tracy Bishop and wife Janet of Houston, Texas and Hal Bishop and wife Sherry of Fostoria, Ohio; a brother Vernon E. Morgenstern of Russell; 19 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She is also preceded in death by her parents and a sister Florence Voos.

A Celebration of Frances’ life is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at the First Congregational Church of Russell with Pastor Frank Alexander and Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will begin from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell with family present from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday evening. A memorial has been established with the First Congregational Church in Russell and may be sent to the mortuary at 610 N. Maple * Russell , Kansas 67665 . Condolences may be sent via email by going to www.pvpmortuary.com . Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the arrangements.