Mary Frances Krahl

Salina- Mary Frances Krahl, 91, was born into her earthly life on February 20, 1929 and was born into eternal life on October 18, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family. Frances was born to Gilbert and Edith (Coupal) Thyfault on the family farm near Zurich, Kansas. In 1939, her family moved to Alton, KS where her parents ran what Frances called the 1st convenience store/gas station/garage/restaurant in America. Her favorite memory was during World War II, she would scoop up free ice cream cones for convoys of soldiers. In Alton, Frances met the love of her life, Zane Krahl. They were the classic love story of the cheerleader and the football player. Frances and Zane were married on her 21st birthday at St. Thomas Church in Stockton, KS. They ran a meat locker in Damar, KS and then moved to Salina, KS where their first child, Julie Ann was born. In 1955, they moved to Hays, KS where their other children were born; Rodney, Becky, Todd and Jeff. Frances was a stay-at-home mom as she never had a driver’s license. She cooked everything from scratch, sewed all the girls clothes, gave everyone haircuts and ordered shoes by placing her kids feet on the foot measuring page in the Sears catalog. In 1968, the family moved to Salina in which living a ½ block from St. Mary’s Church and Sacred Heart High School, Frances walked over to volunteer hundreds of hours. She was head Sacristian at St. Mary’s for 16 years where she decorated the church for holidays and got the altar ready for daily mass. She repeated this process many years at Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School. Frances had a rosary collection she displayed for Sr. Pauline’s 7th grade class who walked over to her house for many Octobers who then left with handfuls of candy. Frances was an awesome cook specializing in casseroles, cookies, tea rings, caramel popcorn and fried chicken and gravy. In her spare time, she hand stitched quilts for each child, grandchild, great-grandchildren with spares to distribute as they continue to arrive in the future. Frances loved to travel and was fortunate to make countless trips with Zane in their 1931 Model A pickup touring across Kansas and the United States with the Midway Antique Auto Club of Salina and the Wichita A’s Model A Ford Club where they met remarkable people and made wonderful memories. She also took orders, wrapped and shipped parts for Zane’s Antique Cars and Parts with Zane for 27 years.

Frances is proceeded in death by her husband of 58 years, Zane, her parents, brothers Donnie Thyfault, John and his wife Lois Thyfault, and sister Dorothy and her husband Doyal Hrabe. She is survived by her sister, Jane and husband Don Cunningham, Stockton, KS.; her children and their spouses: Sr. Julie Ann, C.S.A., Fond du Lac, WI; Rodney, Solomon, KS; Becky of the home; Todd and Sherry Krahl, Salina and Jeff and Lynda Krahl, Galva, KS.; her grandchildren and their spouses: Devin and Carissa Krahl, Blue Springs MO.; Kylie and Dustin Pestinger, Salina, KS., Taylor and Clancy Krahl, Salina, KS.; and Paige Brown of Solomon, KS.; her great grandchildren, Korey Pestinger; Kaidan and Ava Brown. Step grandchildren and great grandchildren Jennifer and Chris Kyle, Chase, Kennedi & Zoe, Moundridge, KS., Chelsea and Austin Baker, Allie, Reed and Madelyn, McPherson, KS., and Cory and Katy Potter, McPherson, KS.

Due to covid, funeral services and burial will be for immediate family members only. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School or Sunflower Adult Day Services in care of Ryan Mortuary. Visitation at Ryan’s Mortuary will be on Wed, October 21, 2020 from 2 PM to 7 PM. Masks are required. The family would like to thank Kindred Hospice for their exceptional care shown to Frances and the family.