Marjorie L. Frame (Trucano)

Marjorie Leona (Trucano) Frame passed away on July 5, 2022, at Edgewood Vista Memory Care in Missoula. Margie died of natural causes at age 94.

Margie was born in Eastern Montana in the small community of Duncan Creek in Powder River County. Her parents, Domenic and Celestine Trucano, raised livestock and agricultural crops experiencing a rewarding, yet often challenging ranch life. Margie had fond memories of their homestead on Duncan Creek; she helped her mother with the household and garden chores, like cooking for the large ranch crew, making soap and caring for the animals. She learned how to can vegetables and meat, prepare risotto, ravioli, and polenta, favorite dishes of her Italian parents. She grew up with two brothers, one older and one younger, Gene and Leo. They rode horseback to their Duncan Creek School. Margie loved to read and did very well in school. When he was a young boy Leo suffered a fractured vertebra in a fall from a barn loft and became a quadriplegic. Leo’s tragic accident greatly affected Margie and inspired her decision to become a nurse. She spent her senior year in High School taking care of Leo in the hospital in Miles City. She boarded with a favorite aunt, Anna Burton and her son Glen with whom she became very close.

One of Margie’s fondest times was when she attended St. Patrick School of Nursing in Missoula. She lived in St. Pat’s dormitory for students and treasured the friends she made there as well as the rigorous course of study. Margie graduated in 1948, after which she worked at St. Pat’s Hospital where she loved being a nurse.

Margie met her husband, Elmer Frame, during this time and they were married May 22, 1948. They had three daughters, Kathy, Julie and Laurie. In their early married life, Margie and Elmer traveled extensively throughout Montana with Elmer’s job for the Bureau of Public Roads. They pulled a small mobile home to each jobsite, and often lived close to Elmer’s brothers and families and other good friends. Margie was very happy with this “gypsy” lifestyle, until first born daughter, Kathy, was about to start school.

Elmer and Margie purchased land West of Missoula in 1956 and started El-Mar Trailer Village for mobile homes. They later bought more land and opened the Missoula KOA campground. They also purchased a school bus and Hellgate Transportation Company began transporting students to Hellgate Elementary School. Margie and Elmer were equal partners in these businesses, each undertaking tasks best suited to their individual talents. Their daughters were very involved as well, and the businesses grew and were successful. Elmer and Margie then purchased land further west of Missoula on Mullan Road and developed El-Mar Estates, a subdivision for affordable housing. Elmer and Margie were very proud of their family businesses, which were later operated by eldest daughter, Kathy, and youngest daughter, Laurie.

In addition to her incredibly busy professional life, Margie was an amazing mother to her three daughters and a loving grandmother to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Margie was the nurturing and stabilizing center of her family’s life. Margie loved to sew and made clothes for her girls and created many wonderful Halloween costumes for them and her grandchildren. The costumes continue to be treasured as they are passed down to the great grandchildren. Margie practiced needlepoint & embroidery too, and she loved to garden. Most remembered and loved perhaps was her skill in the kitchen. Margie was an excellent cook, and her kitchen was a favorite gathering place for family and friends.

Margie has five grandchildren. They are Kathy’s sons, Nate, and Ben (deceased at age 23), Julie’s son Gabriel, and Laurie’s children, son, Tyler (wife Whitney) and daughter, Jenna (husband Josh). Tyler and Whitney have two sons, Declan & Killian. Jenna and Josh have one son, Henry.

Margie was very active in her Altrusa group for many years and often worked in the Altrusa booth at the Western Montana Fair. She worked behind the scenes at the Hors-a-Rama in Missoula for many years when her girls competed in horse shows. She and Elmer were on bowling teams with friends & family, and they traveled extensively later in life; they visited every continent in the world except Antarctica.

In Margie’s final years when she could no longer live alone, she was lovingly cared for by daughter, Kathy, in Kathy’s home for four and a half years. Laurie was instrumental in her care too, always Kathy’s support, while at the same time managing the family businesses. When it was no longer possible to care for Margie at home, she was tenderly cared for by the staff at Edgewood Vista Memory Care in Missoula. Margie’s family will forever be grateful to them.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Frame, grandson, Ben Riley, sons in law Doyle Riley and Dale Wisby, parents Domenic & Tina Trucano, brothers Leo & Gene Trucano, and many treasured sisters and brothers in law, aunts, and cousins.

Survivors include daughters Laurie Wisby, Julie Frame, Kathy Riley; grandchildren Tyler Wisby and his spouse, Whitney Fisher Wisby and their children Declan & Killian, Jenna Cary and her spouse, Josh Cary, and their son Henry, Nathan Riley, and Gabriel Peck-Frame.

A memorial service for Margie will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens on Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Mike McGovern will officiate. Candy Johnson vocalist and pianist. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens with a reception and light lunch to follow at Sunset Memorial.

Pallbearers: Nathan Riley, Tyler Wisby, Jenna Cary, Josh Cary, Tom McLaughlin and Scott Montgomery.

Memorial donations for Margie may be made to Edgewood Vista, 2815 Palmer Street, Missoula, MT 59808. Phone (406) 549-9660. We would like to reward staff for their loving care. Thank you.