Frank Skinner was born July 30, 1945, in Ontario to Alonzo “Forrest” Skinner and Catherine Elberta Frates Skinner. He joined the family of four brothers, Don, Kenny, Jim, and Earl, after which they were joined by sister, Linda, and a brother, Paul.

They lived on the Oregon Slope near Ontario for several years before moving to Crane in 1955. For a short period of time while still in the Oregon Slope area, they lived in a house with a dirt floor and in the summer the kids slept in old cars. When it got cold, they slept in a loft in the house.

Frank went to school in Crane and enjoyed playing football and basketball but was not a fan of school itself. His parents taught him how to work hard and taught him great skills such as welding, mechanical and problem solving.

He learned how to drill wells at any early age, lying about his age to get his Oregon drillers license at the age of 17.

Frank married Margaret “Margie” Miller in 1964 when he was 19 years old. They welcomed their daughter Terri Lynn in March of 1966 and their son Kevin Frank in Oct. of 1968.

The well drilling business was slow, and he was offered a mechanic job at the Allied Land & Livestock Ranches, better known as Roaring Spring Ranch, in Frenchglen. His boss was Margie’s father, Lawrence Miller, who was the foreman.

Frank was very successful in this job because he could fix anything. When he wasn’t busy in the shop, he was kept busy in the newly developed fields working on the new sprinkler system. He was much happier being his own boss though, so after a few years he went back to drilling wells in the Burns area.

In 1972, a friend asked him to move to the Treasure Valley in Idaho because the drillers could not keep up with the demand. This was a very good move for Frank and his family. He expanded his business to having partners and employees running three well drilling rigs and selling and installing water pumps.

When the economy crashed around 2008, he started downsizing and began working by himself. At this time, Frank and Margie moved to Wilder and built their dream home. Not long after the move, Alzheimer’s started rearing its ugly head. 

Frank decided that he really shouldn’t run drill rigs anymore, so he and Margie worked together working on pumps. He was the brawn, and she was the brains which was more than a little bit of a stretch and she decided that was too much responsibility. They retired and hated every minute of retirement. Frank had a few cow that he enjoyed making pets of and spoiling that kept him entertained.

Frank and the family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1978. This was a life change for the better. Frank served in many different positions in the church through the years. 

He loved working with the young men in Scouting, however some of his methods may have been a little unorthodox. One winter, he took the boys on a winter outing. There was not enough snow to build snow caves an the temperatures dropped to 20 degrees below zero. 

In order to keep the boys from freezing, Frank had them climb the hills to gather firewood. When the boys returned home they still had their foil dinners that moms had made for them. Asking why they still have their food, the boys responded, “Oh, Brother Skinner took us to the lodge and bought us hamburgers.”

Frank loved to play and work. Both of which he did with all he had. He loved to water ski, ride motorcycles, and snowmobiles. 

Frank and Margie purchased property in Smiths Ferry, Idaho in 1988. They named the place Packer John Lodge. “The Lodge” was a restaurant, four-room hotel, and the place of many family memories and much family fun.

When they moved to Smiths Ferry they got involved in some serious snowmobiling. It was great fun to get together with other snowmobilers and ride. One of their favorite trips was from Smiths Ferry to Stanley, or really anywhere they could find good, untouched snow to play in.

Frank never knew a stranger and will be rememberd as a person who was nearly always happy, smiling and made the most of all life’s adventures. His sense of humor lasted to the end, even as he failed mentally, he was making friends everywhere he was.

As Franks condition worsened, they moved to Challis, Idaho to be closer to their daughter. Frank was placed in a memory care facility in Aug. of 2020 where he resided until his passing on July 21, 2021.

Frank was preceded in death by his father and mother; brothers, Don and Kenny.

He is survived by his wife, Margie; daughter, Terri (Tom) Stillwaugh; and son, Kevin; and grandchildren, Kamille (Dave) Morris, Detrik (Lauren) Stillwaugh, Jaden (John) Feggo, Damon (Kendra) Stillwaugh, Cole (Allie) Skinner, Tristan (Sadie) Stillwaugh, Dustin Stillwaugh, Jordan and Kyrsten Skinner; three great-grandsons; and two great-granddaughters, with one more due this month as well as brothers, Jim, Earl, Paul; sister, Linda; and many extended family and friends.

Frank was a friend, son, husband, grandpa, great-grandpa, honorable priesthood holder, mechanic, well driller, and pump man. 

He did them all well but his most cherished job of all was being a grandpa and a great-grandpa, oh how he loved those precious people in his life.