For over 30 years, Montview members had Frank Nelson to thank for their Sunday morning program – 49ers Forum. (This forum was to last “no more/no less” than 49 minutes and was to take place between the two church services.) Frank was responsible, along with a small team, for lining up the speakers and presentations for the Adult Education time slot at Montview now known as Faith Formation. Over the decades, Frank was able to get such luminaries as mayors, senators, members of Congress, college professors, and even Condoleezza Rice playing the piano. When Frank retired from this position in 2013, Montview honored him with a celebration.

Frank was born here in Denver where he grew up riding his bike, playing with friends, and attending local schools. When he was five, he ran to retrieve a ball that had rolled into the street and was hit by a car whose driver had not seen him. Frank ended up in the hospital for months with his leg in traction. In order to keep him cheerful and cooperative, the staff brought him raised, glazed donuts daily which were a real treat. To this day, Frank feels that glazed donuts should be part of every day’s menu.

Frank worked while he was going to school, mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling snowy walks, and doing odd jobs in the neighborhood. He and his family attended Central Presbyterian Church where he participated in the Youth Group. His family was friends with the family of Kathleen Kearns. Kathleen attended East High School and Frank attended South High School, but Frank and Kathleen enjoyed spending time together. Their friendship turned into dating and in 1956, they married. After living in Thornton, they eventually settled down in Denver, not far from Montview. Frank and Kathleen were initially drawn to Montview because of the pastor, Fay Hill, but the wonderful church culture inspired them to join in 1972.

One event from Frank’s past, which has impacted him for years, resulted from an ROTC instructor in high school. On more than one occasion, this instructor would shock and harass the ROTC students by tossing an M80-Firecracker into a classroom where they were congregating. The tremendously loud explosion would leave Frank with permanent damage to his ears, and premature hearing loss. Frank went on to serve in the Army Reserve in the Quarter Master Corp.

Frank’s interest in politics led him to run for the Colorado House of Representatives in the late 70s. Even though he did not make it through the Primary, he enjoyed campaigning in an orange Model A!

For much of his life Frank worked in real estate, but there was a stretch when he sold products to salons and barber shops in Colorado and southern Wyoming. This gave Frank the opportunity to purchase a working barber pole and an antique barber chair that, in spite of the tremendous weight, he brought home and set up in the living room. A little-known fact about Frank is that the beauty supply company had a party and surprised Frank with a very special award: Mr. Beautiful Legs! (He made sure that I could see and appreciate that his legs are still “beautiful”!)

In 2020, Frank and Kathleen moved into St. Andrew’s Village. A testament to the optimism and good humor of both Kathleen and Frank is how they transitioned to independent and then assisted living. While the family wrestled with the timing of this move in light of the Covid pandemic and the disruption of leaving the family home, Kathleen and Frank needed more help. After not too long, both of them were able to praise the services they received, and the staff attention, and enjoy their new apartment. Since they had not experienced the social life of St. Andrew’s before the Covid lockdown, they did not miss the activities; all they needed was to be together.

Kathleen and Frank were married for 67 years. They raised 5 children: Randy, who lives in Steamboat Springs; Doug and Roger, who both live in Virginia; and Virginia and Cynthia, who both live in Denver. Kathleen and Frank have ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Sadly, Kathleen passed away in September of 2023, and while Frank misses her tremendously, he continues to maintain an upbeat attitude.

– Submitted by Brooke Durland, in conjunction with Cynthia and Virginia Nelson