Frank was born on  April 13, 1949 in Medford Oregon to Parents Finis and Vivian.

The family moved to Helena in 1956 and Frank enrolled in Central School. After a couple of years the family moved to a house on Highland street and he would attend Jefferson, Helena Junior High and Helena High schools. He was a good athlete, wrestling and swimming, he continued swimming for exercise his whole life.

Frank was a hard worker, even as a kid, selling newspapers at businesses on Main street.

In March of 1968 Frank joined the U.S. Marine Corps with his younger brother Gordon on the Buddy program, they went through "Boot Camp" together in Camp Pendleton, CA that year. His assignment was "0300 Infantry".

In June 1968 Frank found himself "in country" as it was called then, in Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, stationed in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Frank went on his first patrol his second day in country, mostly going out on night patrol looking for Viet Cong on search and destroy missions. After three long months, On August 31, 1968, Frank found himself as part of "Operation Sussex Bay" in a place south of Da Nang called "Dodge City". His squad found themselves in the hottest firefight yet and received multiple casualties. Frank gave first aid where he could and helped evacuate his wounded comrades to the Medevac site. After loading one of the "Hueys" with casualties the helicopter was shot down killing all on board. That night U.S. forces looked on as rockets and napalm pounded the valley, the next morning Mike Company was sent in to count bodies from the barrage the night before. As Frank and his squad worked their way through the elephant grass approaching the forest, Frank's squad came under blistering fire from mortars, grenades and machine guns. Frank and his squad returned fire as best as they could despite being pinned down. The soldier next to him went down and then there was a loud explosion, Frank was stunned and things went dark and he thought "well, I'm Dead".

Frank had grenade shrapnel all over his body including two large pieces of metal, one in his chest and the other in his foot. Doctors weren't sure at first if he would lose his foot. After five months and several surgeries he was walking again and used crutches for almost a year. Frank had permanent lung damage from the Dioxin in the Agent Orange, the chest wound and the tiny bits of shrapnel he carried for the rest of his life, this would come back to haunt him when he contracted Covid-19 in early 2022. His PTSD was severe and he had trouble sleeping and intense nightmares for the next 54 years. Frank was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries sustained in combat.

In 1970 Frank went back to Helena High to finish his last semester of high school and get his diploma. He was a security guard at the Montana Capitol building where he met his ex-wife Carla Tevis, they married in 1971, they have one son, Mike Franklin.

Frank worked many jobs all over Helena in the 1970's, at one moment in the early 80"s he had three jobs at once. Working long hours helped abate the PTSD symptoms. The places he worked in this period were Jim Darcy school, The Montana High School Association, The Power Bock, Dapper Dans, The Hofbrau, Tubbs market and Club 21. He attended Carrol College for a few years, Majoring in business.

In the early 80's Frank began working at the VA hospital, Fort Harrison in the kitchen and commissary. He enjoyed working with patients a lot, he retired from there in 2009 after more than 25 years. He retired at 60 and did a great deal of traveling, a white water rafting trip down the Grand Canyon, and several cruises with his girlfriend of 15 years Barb Pastian. In 2016 he made it to Washington DC and paid his repects to fallen friends and comrades at the Vietnam Memorial.

Frank is preceded in death by his Mother; Vivian, Father; Finis, Brother Vernon and ex-wife; Carla.

Frank is survived by his son; Mike Franklin. Brothers: Richard (Helene) Franklin, Gordon (Sue) Spencer. Sister; Janet (Jim). Girlfriend; Barb Pastian and her daughter Bets and Bets son Dylan.

Frank's remains will be interred at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. Services there begin at 2:00PM, June 6, 2022.