Joanne E. Frandsen

Obituary

Joanne Elizabeth Raukar was born on March 20, 1938, in Virginia, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Joseph “Joe” and Ann (Barboni) Raukar. Joanne was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in her faith, as a youth, both at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Virginia, Minnesota.

She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Virginia, Minnesota, with the Class of 1956. Joanne furthered her education at Virginia Junior College, where she completed courses in shorthand and accounting.

On November 28, 1969, Joanne was united in marriage to Dallis Dean Frandsen in South Dakota. The couple shared over 54 years of marriage before Dallis passed away on July 25, 2024.

During her life, Joanne was always a hard worker and held various employment. Her first job was at the Virginia Municipal Hospital where she was an assistant to the dietician. She enjoyed working at the Virginia Public Library both at the 5th Avenue location and on the Bookmobile for four years. She worked at Piggly Wiggly in the meat department. When the store changed ownership to National Foods, she transferred to the produce department. In the late 1980’s when the store became Lehrke’s IRA, she was a check-out clerk. She loved the role she had for many years as department head of the Liz Claiborne area at Herbergers in Virginia’s Thunderbird Mall. She greatly enjoyed her customers and co-workers and received many awards in top sales before retiring in December of 1996.

She and Dallis enjoyed their retirement in Wabasha, Minnesota, where they spent time with their numerous, close friends. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards and Mah Jon. She was a member of the altar guild at church along with Red Hat Society. She enjoyed volunteering for Book Buddies at the Wabasha-Kellogg schools along with Elder Network for over 10 years.

Joanne always had a gift with fashion, color, and interior design. One of her favorite pastimes was putting together beautiful outfits for herself, her family, and her customers at Herbergers. She loved interior design and always enjoyed remodeling her homes. She also enjoyed hosting dinner parties for family and later in life for her close friends. Anyone who visited her home would receive an offering of a plethora of treats. She enjoyed being a “food pusher.” She was the most amazing cook and baker. She had a collection of hundreds of cookbooks, which she would read and study them to provide delicious treats to her family and friends. She enjoyed attending choir concerts over the years, along with musicals. She always enjoyed taking hour-long “power walks” while residing in Virginia, at Sand Lake, and in Wabasha. She enjoyed collecting bells, paperweights, and Blue Willow.

Joanne was a born-again Christian. Her faith was the central focus in her life. In her later years, she spent several hours in prayer early each morning. She loved self-study of the scriptures along with Bible studies with different friends over the years. She knew her Savior well and was looking forward to this day, where she could finally, “Go Home.”

When Dallis developed Dementia, Joanne selflessly cared for him at their home in Wabasha, for many years. When the time came for him to transition to Memory Care, on July 26, 2021, Joanne moved to Rockford, Minnesota, to live with her daughter, Liz. She enjoyed visiting with her new neighbors and taking care of “her dog,” Ozzy. When she needed additional assistance with her daily care, she moved to Amira Choice in Plymouth, Minnesota, on September 7, 2023, where she resided in their Memory Care Assisted Living. She peacefully entered eternal life and was welcomed home by her Heavenly Father on the afternoon of Friday, July 11, 2025, at the age of 87 years.

Blessed be her memory.

Joanne is survived by her:
Children,
Mark Wilcox and his wife, Sheila, of Mt. Iron, MN;
Sharon Biddle and her husband, Rick, of Lakewood, CO; and
Elizabeth “Liz” Larson of Rockford, MN, and her special friend, Scott;
Grandchildren, Aaron Wilcox and his wife, Jane, of Duluth, MN;
Andrew Wilcox and his wife, Marin, of North Branch, MN;
Nicole “Nici” Brown of Lakewood, CO;
Lauren “Lu Lu” Brown of Lakewood, CO; and
Sophia Larson and her fiancé, Adam of Brooklyn Park, MN;
Sister, Pamela “Pam” Shega and her husband, Tom, of Duluth, MN;
Grand Dog, Ozzy Pawsbourne;
and numerous friends

Joanne was preceded in death by her Husband, Dallis on July 25, 2024; Parents, Joseph “Joe” Raukar on March 1, 2002, and Ann (Barboni) Raukar on March 13, 2002; Stillborn, older twin sisters, Sister, Sharon Raukar, in childhood, and Son-in-Law, Jonathan M. Larson on September 19, 2019.