Frances "Fran" M. Broten, 61, of Eau Claire died Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando, Florida. \r\nShe was born in Eau Claire on July 23, 1948, a daughter of Harold and Beverly "June" (Hogue) Skoug.\r\nFran graduated from Eleva-Strum High School with the class of 1966. She went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude in Business Education from UW-Eau Claire in 1971 and went on to complete her Masters Degree in 1972.\r\nFran married Darrell E. Broten on December 20, 1975, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Strum, WI.\r\nShe began her teaching career in 1972 at Blair High School. Fran taught there until 1977, then was a business receptionist for a few months until teaching again at Fall Creek High School in 1978. She taught there until her retirement in 2005.\r\nWhile still teaching, Fran was also church organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Strum until 1982. In 1990, she became church organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire until 1998.\r\nTraveling was one of Fran's hobbies. She and Darrell went on a long vacation trip nearly every summer, reaching all four corners of the United States, Alaska, plus several trips to Hawaii and Florida, which were her two favorite destinations. Several times Fran acted as an unofficial travel agent in helping her friends and family arrange their vacations. \r\nFran was an avid motorcyclist riding behind her husband. For 31 years she rode small and large motorcycles as part of her vacations or on motorcycle exclusive trips. She was a member of the Gold Wing Touring Association and the local club River Valley Riders.\r\nOther hobbies were reading, tending her flower gardens, entertaining, and going to Lutefisk dinners.\r\nBecause of their frequent visits, Fran was an associate member of Kihei Lutheran Church in Maui, HI, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee, FL.\r\nUpon her retirement Fran and Darrell began her last adventure of spending winters in Florida. She was employed in the Stroller Department of SeaWorld adventure park. There she developed friendships with her co-workers and fondness for sea creatures and all animals. She also made great friends at Sherwood Forest RV resort. \r\nFran is survived by her husband, Darrell; her mother, Beverly "June" (Peter) Grant of Eau Claire; sister, Kay Ratajczak of Kewaunee; step-brother, Duane (Barb) Grant of St. Cloud, MN; sister-in-law, Carolyn Johnson of Chippewa Falls; niece, Jean Ratajczak of Horicon; two nephews, John (special friend Melissa Carr) Ratajczak of Kewaunee and Frank (special friend Audrey Kvamme) Johnson of Eau Claire; and her toy poodle, Peaches.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her father; and brother-in-law, Peter Ratajczak.\r\nFuneral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Eau Claire with Pastor James Page officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.\r\nIn lieu of flowers family requests memorials be directed to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure (5005 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX, 75244),Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (302 Ridgefield Ct., Asheville, NC 28806), or SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Wildlife Conservation Fund (423 Lynch St., Building 260-2, St. Louis, MO 63118).

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