Francis S. Bodine

Lt. Col. Francis S. Bodine (Ret. USAF), 96 year old resident of Minnetonka, MN, formerly of Edina, MN, passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2016 at his residence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, Aug. 19th at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Minnetonka, MN, with Fr. David Ostrowski officiating. Burial will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday, and from 9:30 to 10:30 AM Friday, both at the church. Francis Stephen Bodine was born at home on August 3, 1920, the third child of Francis Patrick and Elizabeth Louise (Grossman) Bodine in Voltaire, ND. Francis was the eldest son of eighteen children. Francis received his Associates Degree in Engineering from Minot State College in 1940, where he learned to fly with the Civil Air Patrol. He joined the Army Air Corps in March 1941. After flight training and acting as a flight instructor, he was deployed to Halesworth, England as the pilot of a B-24 Liberator with the 489th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division. Francis was the lead crew pilot and flew twenty-three combat missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission over France. After WWII he was integrated into the newly formed Air Force and was sent to the University of Minnesota to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Francis met Virginia at the University of Minnesota and they married on August 27, 1949. Francis served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to the 18th Fighter Bomber Group in Korea, flying the P51 Mustang. He completed 67 combat missions in Korea. After several other assignments, including a stint at the Pentagon, in the Air Staff Planning Office for the USAF, he was sent to Harvard University to complete his Masters Degree in Business Administration. Francis retired from the Air Force in 1966 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, two Presidential Unit Citations, and eight Campaign and Service ribbons during his career. After retiring from the military, Francis joined General Mills where he worked for 17 years before retiring in 1983. Francis enjoyed fishing, golfing, bowling, and gardening. He was a very devout member of the Catholic Church and his deep faith inspired his friends and family. Francis is survived by his wife, Virginia Mary (Kletzin) Bodine; children, Sarah (Kirk) Ward and their children, Geoffrey, Meghan and Lauren, Francis Patrick Bodine and his children, Alyssa and Francis Jedidiah, James (Joan Krikava) Bodine and their children, Eleanor and Peter, Stephen (Patty) Bodine and their children, S. Ross and Caitlin (Jason) Kelley, Thomas Bodine and his children, Jack, Anne and Margaret, and Therese Bodine; sisters, Jenette Warlick, Monica Goetze, and Audrey (Tom) McLaughlin; brothers, Paul Bodine, Mark Bodine, John (Betty) Bodine, Robert (Barbara) Bodine, Ronald (Carol) Bodine, Jerry (Peggy) Bodine, Dale (Sandy) Bodine, Bill (Kim) Bodine; brother’s in law, Bob Bernards and Pat Effertz. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Luella (Emanuel) Fix, Viola (Phil) Prescott, Delores Bernards, Loretta Effertz, Sr. Bernadette Bodine OSB; brother Charles Bodine; sister’s in law, Debbie Bodine, Donna Bodine, and Kay Bodine; brother’s in law, Wesley Warlick and Floyd Goetz; and his grandchild William Francis Bodine (Billy). Memorial donations to Sharing and Caring Hands, Minneapolis MN and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Minnetonka, MN.

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Francis S. Bodine

August 3, 1920 - August 14, 2016