Frankie Joseph Potrament, 91, of Lancaster, Minnesota passed away at Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center in Hallock on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 with Jerry Groves by his side. Frankie was born October 1, 1925 to William and Agnes (Wallenberg) Potrament. He attended country school in St. Joseph Township through the 8th grade.  Frankie's teenage years were spent helping his parents on the farm where they grew small grains and raised livestock, turkeys and chickens.  They milked 20 cows, separated the milk and sold the cream.  They churned butter and made cottage cheese as well.  They did threshing for friends and in the winter cut and hauled wood with a team of horses and sleigh.  A stranger to hard work, he was not! In recent days, he was so worried about those horses, wondering if they were in or tied up.  Frankie served with the U.S. Army in the Asiatic Pacific Theater during the occupation of Japan. After his discharge he moved to Bloomington, Minnesota where he worked as a laborer for Kraus-Anderson Construction.  He was a proud member of the Minnesota Laborers Union for over 50 years.  Frankie moved back to Lancaster upon his retirement in 1984.  He enjoyed shaking dice to see who had to buy coffee at the diner, and also took in an afternoon card game.  He and his sister Helen loved to go fishing. He would bring his prized Northerns back and make the best pickled fish and poor man's salmon around.  He loved to spend time in his picturesque garden and watch the Twins play baseball.  He was always on the hook to bring his famous cabbage rolls to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  Frankie moved to the Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center in March of 2016 due to failing health.  Frankie was a member of Holy Rosary Church, Lancaster Lions and  American Legion Post #214.  He was Godfather to John Potrament and MaryAnn Schmiedeberg.

Frankie was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Edward (2000), Lawrence (2014), Helen (2016), Stanley (1987) and Leonard (1981); a niece, Beth Potrament and nephew, Jerry Potrament and great nephew, Kevin Hunter. He is survived by nieces and nephews, Sue Hilman, Jayne Jaszczak, Bill Potrament, Chuck Potrament, Rodney Potrament, MaryAnn Schmiedeberg, Kathy Hunter, Judy Ness, Bill Uscensky, Steve Uscensky, John Potrament, Rick Potrament, Lois Wilwand, Lori Bergh; sister-in-law, Helen Potrament, several great and great great nieces and nephews; and special friends, the Groves', Elfstrom's and Zander's.

Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Holy Rosary Catholic Church, rural Lancaster. Interment will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church for one hour prior to the funeral service. Fr. George Noel, presiding; Sharlene Klegstad, organist; readers, Emily Schmiedeberg and Jessie Zander; gift bearers, Kaitlyn Kraska and Breanna Wallenberg. Casket bearers will be John Potrament, Bill Potrament, Chuck Potrament, Rodney Potrament, Bill Uscensky and Keith Schmedeberg.