Frank Joe Lichtner

A resident of the Stony Plain area for the past 19 years and a longtime resident of the farming community of Hawk Hills, Alberta, Frank passed peacefully in his sleep after a brief battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

During his short stay in hospice at the Stony Plain Hospital, Frank came to know some of the incredibly kind and caring staff. Just a few days into his stay, Dad expressed his wonder at how he had gotten lucky enough to end up with “the two best doctors in the world!” He never complained. Throughout his stay, he was patient and grateful, accepting the hand he had suddenly been dealt with both grace and dignity.

Dad spent most of his life teaching his children and grandchildren how to live well. Yet the short lessons he gave us during his final four weeks - teaching us how to die well - are now among the most important lessons of our lives.

Frank was born on August 27, 1938, to Pauline and Frank Lichtner Sr., in a little farmhouse near North Star, Alberta. He grew up as the middle child of seven, with five sisters and one brother. They walked uphill both ways to Moose Ridge School, and after completing his schooling, Frank stayed home to work alongside his dad on the family farm.

Then, in 1956, with a borrowed $5 bill in his pocket, he hitchhiked to Peace River to homestead on his very own quarter of land in Hawk Hills. In 1957, he homesteaded the adjacent quarter. And in 1958, he met Donna Predy, his first and only love.

On August 28, 1961, Frank and Donna were married, and so began the life we would all share. They spent the next 46 years in Hawk Hills, where they raised three sons and two daughters, hundreds of cattle, thousands upon thousands of bushels of grain, and countless hopes and dreams.

Frank was an active and ambitious member of his community, always making an effort to improve his life, the life of his family, and the lives of those around him. He was instrumental in founding and running many local committees and organizations. But of all his accomplishments, Frank considered one of his greatest - and certainly one of his favourite - achieving his lifelong dream. In 1975, he completed his flight training, earned his pilot’s license, and bought his first airplane.

His flying adventures remained some of his favourite stories to tell, right up until his final days. Those stories, along with his love of flying, will forever be part of the legacy he leaves to his family.

Our dad, Frank, spent the last few weeks preparing his final flight plan. And in the early morning hours of Friday, September 25, 2026, he was finally cleared for take-off.

Frank will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 65 years, Donna Lichtner; his five children and their families:

Scott (Andrea) Lichtner, and children Ryan (Meghan) and Avery Autumn, Travis, Marina (Taylor) and Levi Frank, and Natalie;

Linda (Darryl) Nelson, and children Stefanie, Renata, Jillian, Nicole, Landon, and Emily;

Kurt Lichtner, and children Maya and Jack, along with their mother, Janet Hogle;

Lara (Philip) Tinkler, and children Jeremy, Drake, Adrian, Samara, and Danika;

Jonathan (Helen) Lichtner, and children Joshua and Dylan.

He is also survived by his sisters Irene Durand and Emily (Lorne) Kinnee, his brother Willie Lichtner, and his brother-in-law Dennis Grant.

Frank was predeceased by his parents, Pauline and Frank Lichtner Sr.; his sisters Elizabeth Grant, Mary Luck, and Anne Patrick; and his brothers-in-law Willie Luck and Leroy Durand.

Funeral Mass

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at:

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

200 Boundary Road

Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3A5

A lunch will follow immediately after Mass in the church hall.

If you are planning to attend the lunch, please let us know so we can provide the caterer with an approximate number. Please reply by text to Linda at 780-405-8280.

Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Spruce Grove, Alberta, for immediate family only.