Franklin Lawrence Holbrook

Franklin Lawrence Holbrook began his journey in Glendive in a year predating internet and google searches. He was born to Mavis and Glenn Holbrook on November 27, 1953, the second son of four children. Frank’s voyage came to its last destination on August 29, 2022, after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Frank grew up in Lemmon, South Dakota, alongside his two brothers, Chuck and Bob and his little sister, Melanie. When Frank was a junior in school, the family moved to Billings, Montana. In 1971, while attending Billings West High School, Frank met his high school sweetheart, Glenda Jo Haman. He would call out to her, “Hey little red-haired girl!” to get her attention. It must have worked, as they married on March 17, 1973, and celebrated 49 wonderful years together. Their only son, Philip Jon, was welcomed into the world in 1976. Little did they know that from their only child and his wife, Marlo, they would give them five grandchildren to love and spoil.

Frank worked a variety of jobs, including a stint at Pierce Packing, Rip’s Shoe Store, and KG Bootery while attending Eastern Montana College, now MSU-B. In 1980, he began what would be the career that carried him into his retirement years, which was real estate. Frank began at the local office, The Home Mart, which then morphed into Best Realty Better Homes and Gardens and ended as Best Realty GMAC Real Estate. Frank was a broker/co-owner at Best Realty, Inc and the best real estate trainer and mentor in Billings.

When Frank and Glenda weren’t busy working, they both enjoyed traveling and spending time at their favorite destinations: Las Vegas and Scottsdale. They both eagerly awaited the annual real estate conferences in various cities around the U.S. and occasional cruises. Frank’s larger-than-life personality and sense of humor always brought smiles and laughter to those around him. If you knew Frank long enough, or in some cases, not that long, you got to hear his favorite Eskimo joke and see his famous cooking apron.

Frank was a foodie at heart and loved describing the wonderful dishes they indulged in on their travels. Although nothing would surpass his love for the original Bruno’s followed up with Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. He loved his wife’s homemade cooking and baking, his favorite being Carol’s Casserole. When he wasn’t busy selling homes, helping clients, traveling, and indulging in wonderful Italian, he loved to play piano and listen to a variety of music.

In 2005, he was diagnosed with early stages of Parkinson’s Disease. Although no cures exist at this time, through the advancements of modern science and medicine, it provided a multitude of tools, including deep brain stimulation, to help manage his illness and give him more time with his beloved wife, his son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and his best fur buddies, Vinnie and Winter.

In the last year of his fight, so many people stepped in to help care for him when we needed it most. So that Glenda could continue to work, Phil stayed with his dad during the weekdays. His sister Melanie often assisted on weekdays to help when Phil had to travel for work. Frank’s niece Jeana volunteered on many days to help with his care as well. During his last few months, we were blessed to have Glenda’s brother, Gregg, travel from Washington state to help care for Frank and spent many weeks with us to help provide for Frank’s comfort at home. Glenda’s sister cousins along with her niece and her husband and nephew also stepped in with meals, groceries, and emotional support for Frank and Glenda.

During his final days, Frank was surrounded by all those that loved him and passed peacefully in his home.

Frank was preceded in death by parents Glenn and Mavis Holbrook and his in-laws Val and Frances Haman and nephew Nathan Haman. He is survived by his wife, Glenda Holbrook; son and daughter-in-law: Phil and Marlo Holbrook; grandchildren: Abigail, Gabriel, Emma, Matthew, and Ryan Holbrook. Brothers: Charles (Vicki) Holbrook of East Glacier, Bob (Bebot) Holbrook of California; and sister: Melanie (Curtis) Thompson of Billings, brother-in-law Gregg (Laura), Red (Mary) Carr of Alaska; and extended family Marley and Sharon Dunlap, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to the teams of Dr. Arturo Echeverri, Dr. Stuart Goodman and Dr. Edward Malters along with all the members of Compassus Hospice Care who helped in his final months of life. Thank you to pastor Derrick Ross for his spiritual support and comforting prayer in our time of need.

We’d also like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for all those who helped us in all the ways that are too numerous to list. Your support and being there when it was needed was very greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made to Compassus Hospice Care.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at First Congregational Church, 506 S. Fifth St., Laurel.