Franklin 'Frank' Wynne Noble, 64
Frank Noble skied into the arms of Jesus and his children, Krystal and Franklin, on Tuesday, Aug, 27, 2019.
Frank was born in Houston to Franklin Wilson and Sue Ann Noble on May 2, 1955. The majority of his growing up years were spent in San Antonio, Texas. When Frank was in first grade, he put some crayons on the classroom heater. They melted and smelled up the room. When asked why he told his teacher, “I wanted to see what would happen.” Frank was a very curious little guy and he never lost his desire for knowledge.
Frank’s father, Wilson, first introduced him and his brothers, Pat and Joe, to the sport of hunting, fishing, and camping. This love continued and became an obsession throughout Frank’s life.
Frank graduated in 1973 from MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas. He went to Texas A&M for two years and then transferred to Texas Tech because they had a better rodeo program. While in college, he rode bareback horses and won the Southern District Bronco Riding Competition. He graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a minor in anthropology. He then went on to compete in PRCA rodeo in New Mexico and Colorado for the next two years.
Frank eventually went on to become a special agent for the U.S. Customs Service which later became Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with Homeland Security. He arrested many drug smugglers and other criminals during his career. He worked as a special agent, retiring after 25 years in 2012.
In 1992 Frank married his loving wife, Mary Katherine Harvey, and adopted her daughter Krystal Lashea. They lived on the Texas/Mexico border in Presidio, Texas. In 1994 they had a son, Franklin Harvey Noble. Frank was a wonderfully loving and dedicated daddy and husband. The family later moved to Alpine and then Ballenger, Texas. In 2003 the Noble family moved to Kalispell. Frank fell in love with the beauty of Montana and all the wonderful people. They had found their home!
Frank was always active and really embraced the Montana way of life. He loved hunting, hiking, fishing, boating, snow skiing and, most of all, his family and friends. Frank never met a stranger and would do anything he could to help others in need.
He had multiple friends through his law enforcement connections and his rodeo friends. He had a great love of World War II history and all things historical. He also had a great love for guns and the history of firearms. He was friends with many mountain men and black powder shooters. He had numerous gun show friends. He was a member of the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, Rocky Mountain Weapon Collectors, Safari Club International, NRA, and the Boone & Crockett Club. He deeply loved his law enforcement, rodeo and gun families!
After Frank retired he became a ski instructor at Blacktail Mountain Ski Resort. He loved teaching people of all ages to downhill ski. On his days off he would ski at other ski resorts. One winter he skied at 15 different ski resorts. He deeply loved his Blacktail family!
Frank was extremely involved with the Masonic Lodge. He first joined the Masonic Lodge in Alpine, Texas. He also became a Shriner at El Maida Shrine in El Paso, Texas. He was a member of the Whitefish Masonic Lodge and was a Past Grand Master. He was then asked to join the Grand Lodge of Montana A.F. & A.M. He was honored to be able to help his fellow brethren at the state level. He was the district officer for the Glacier District. He started at the bottom of the Grand Line and after nine years had moved up to hold the position of Junior Grand Warden. He only needed three more years and he would have been the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the State of Montana A.F & A.M. He was so excited and honored. He deeply loved and respected all his Masonic Family brethren and their ladies!
Frank had a strong belief in his heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. As his sister Julie said, “Frank’s moral compass pointed True North.” He always protected her and anyone else who was in need. Frank always strived to be an inspiration to others, and lead by example. He succeeded! Frank stated, “There are only three things that are important in life: your faith, your family, and your friends. Everything else is small stuff!” Frank counted his friends as family. Heaven gained an impressive, humble, honest and godly man. His absence will be missed by many. Frank, we love you and are looking forward to the day we are all reunited with you in heaven.
Frank is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Mary Katherine Harvey Noble; His mother, Sue Anne Creekmore Noble; his mother-in-law, Lanora Alan McDonell Harvey; his siblings, Patrick Wilson Noble, Julie Anne Noble and Joseph Howard Noble (Amy Michele); his nieces, Kenda Wynnelle Taylor, Jenna Michele Noble, and Shannon Harvey; his nephews, Dylan Joseph Noble, David Howard Noble, Quinlin Noble Taylor, Ryan Barrow, and David Charles Harvey; his paternal uncle, Steven Hall Noble; his maternal uncle, Wynne Louis “Buzzy” Creekmore; his maternal aunt, Diane Webster Creekmore; his maternal cousins, Cindy Creekmore Giesen and Sarah Creekmore Free; and numerous friends and loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his precious children, Krystal Lashea Noble and Franklin Harvey Noble; his father, Franklin Wilson Noble; his father-in-law, David Allen Harvey; his brother-in-law, Allen Ray Harvey; his maternal cousin, Suzanne Howard Creekmore; his maternal grandparents, Wynne Louis Creekmore and Audrey Lucille Lipscomb Creekmore; his paternal grandparents, Franklin Hall Noble and Doris Wilson Noble, and his paternal aunt, Monica Susan Noble.
A viewing will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Darlington Cremation and Burial Service, 3408 U.S. Hwy. 2 E., Kalispell. Funeral services for Frank will be held at 4:40 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell. Interment will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Franklin W. Noble Benefit Account established at First Interstate Bank in Kalispell.