Frank Appeldoorn was born on July 2, 1915 in Center Creek Township, Martin County, MN. At the age of three, after the 1917 influenza epidemic took the life of his father, his mother, a brother and a sister moved to Fairmont. Upon completion of the eighth grade he began working on local farms and later rented land to start farming on his own. On April 5, 1941 he married Selma Tollakson and they lived on a farm near Granada. Shortly thereafter, they purchased a farm near Sherburn and after a brief stay, sold that to settle on a farm east of Truman in 1950 where they remained. He served on the township board and was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman. After retirement Frank and Selma moved to a house bordering Interlaken golf course. It was there where he was able to pursue his recently acquired loved of golf. He enjoyed his hobby with his many friends and continued the game well into his eighties. Frank and Selma enjoyed traveling, seeing much of the USA, Europe and the Holy Land. They also enjoyed a number of winters in Arizona. Frank remained in his home eight years after Selma passed away in 1997. After staying at the Lutheran Retirement Home for a short time, Frank arrived at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in 2007. Frank died on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont.

Frank is survived by one son, Ronald Appeldoorn (Patricia) of Gardener, NV; one daughter, Joanne Benson (Benny) of Shoreview, MN; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Elaine Appeldoorn and numerous nieces and nephews.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Selma; one sister, Marie and one brother, Louis; two step-sisters, Betty and Hazel; one sister-in-law, Mildred; one brother-in-law, Everett.