Jesse Eugene DeFrance (1918 - 2008)

Born 29 Oct 1918 in Reed Point, Sweet Grass County, Montana, USA

Ancestors

Died 8 Feb 2008 at age 89 in Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, United States

Biography

J.E. "Gene" DeFrance was born Oct 29, 1918, in Reed Point. His family later moved to Laurel, where he completed high school, lettering in all sports.

He earned a scholarship to Montana State University (now University of Montana) in Missoula, where he completed two years. In 1939, he married Marjorie M. Smith.

At the start of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, where he completed 56.5 missions over Germany.

After the war, he worked for the Arizona Biltmore while healing from the injuries received during the war. He eventually moved back to Laurel and went into the service-station business there until 1968, when he began working for AAA Montana. He was transferred to Helena in 1975. Gene retired from there in 1983. He remained active as a reserve officer and in the Northwestern Barbwire Association until his death.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; his parents, Sam and Ethel; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Gilbert, Frank and Olivia (Ole) and Lawrence (Shorty) and Loretta; three children; and various nephews.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy (Chuck) Hallett; granddaughters Julie (Scott) Zarske, Maj. Melissa (Bill Yaeger) Youderian (USAF) ; two great-grandchildren, Jessica Zarske and Colton Yaeger; nieces; nephews; great-nephews; and great-nieces. Services will be at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

Children

Tom Eugene DeFrance, 1946–1946

Jack Edward DeFrance, 1947–1947

James Irvin DeFrance, 1947–1947

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26953004/jesse-eugene-defrance