Frankie Vieyra

O n August 26, 2022, at the age of 101, Frances 'Frankie' Vieyra was welcomed into heaven.

Frankie was born November 2, 1920, to Telesforo and Tiburcia Ortega at Silver Lake, KS, and she grew up in Topeka.

On January 1, 1941, Frankie was united in marriage to Louis Vieyra. They lived in Topeka then moved to North Platte later that same year. Louis worked for the UP Railroad and Frankie took care of the family. She was the mother of six children and became a foster mother to 23 children.

In 1956 Frankie started working for Chef LaLanne then worked for Allen Jared in the flower shop. She retired in 1983 but continued helping others as a volunteer with R.S.V.P., Hospice and P.T.A., and assisted others as a translator. Frankie especially enjoyed making and donating baby blankets and caps for newborns, Great Plains Health and St. Patrick's Catholic Daughters received and shared her gifts. Her favorite pastime was making beautiful, handmade quilts for family and friends; she made hundreds over the years.

Frankie was recognized for her accomplishments and service when she received the Hispanic Woman of the Year Award, Presidents Call to Service Award, and R.S.V.P. Award.

Frankie was a longtime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. She was active with the Altar Society of Catholic Women, Women of St. Patrick's, and was in charge of funeral dinners for many years. When the kids were young, Frankie was also a Cub Scout Den Mother and Boy Scouts Leader.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis, Sr. and their children, Louis, Jr. and Theresa Toledo; her parents; brothers, Joseph, Raymond and Andrew Ortega; sisters, Marie Rodriguez, Juanita Solis, Mildred Gomez; sister-in-law, Tillie Ortega; and grandchildren, Louis Vieyra, Angela Toledo Miller, Alex Toledo and Jerome Vieyra.

Survivors include her children, Fred (Julie) Vieyra, Jerome 'Jerry' (Donna) Vieyra and Victoria 'Vicky' (Jim) Valdivia, all of North Platte and Angelina Brown of Corpus Christi, TX, and adopted children, Stephanie Neemann of Fort Worth, TX, and Stephan Horn-Vieyra of Corpus Christi, TX; her sister, Carman (Vincent) Serrano of Littleton, CO; brother, Louis (Florence) Ortega of Wichita, KS; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren and numerous other family members.

Services will be held Saturday, September 3, 2022, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Rosary will begin at 10 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. with Celebrant Father Jonathan Sorensen. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Service will be livestreamed on the church's YouTube site. Visitation is Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.