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Elmer Allan Franks, late of Weyburn, SK passed away on March 5, 2025 at the age of 90 years.
He was predeceased by his wife, Fran; parents, David and Bertha; his brothers, Doug and Rueben; father and mother-in-law, Pat and Mildred Patrick; Fran’s siblings: Bill and Agnes Pittman, Quint and Marg Patrick, Bert and Doug McKenzie and Gerry Grandbois.
Elmer is survived by his son, Brent (Edna) Franks; daughter Taryl (Blair) Franks-Kalesnikoff; and son Wade (Jen) Franks; grandchildren: Joel (Kezia), Casey, Erin (Austin), Jordan (Aidan), Dryden, Davis (Melinda), Kirsten (Matt), Ethan, Owen; his great grandchildren: Gabe, Gunner, Lennix and Frankie; sister, Dixie (Bill) Young; brother, Willie (June) Franks; as well as
numerous nieces, nephews and very good friends.
Elmer Allan Franks was born December 20, 1934 in Maidstone, Saskatchewan.
From a young age Elmer grew up with a strong passion and love for all things sporting related and in particular baseball and hockey.
By the time he was a young teen he was playing these sports at a high level. Baseball soon took him to stops with teams in Leduc, Alberta and North Battleford Saskatchewan a club in the Western Canada Pro League.
In July of 1957, at 22 years of age, Elmer accepted an offer to play baseball in Weyburn with the Weyburn Beavers. Within a short time he would meet the love of his life, a young woman named Frances Pittman. When baseball season ended that year, he was convinced to stay in Weyburn and play hockey with the Beavers hockey team.
In early summer of 1958 Elmer and Frances were married in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Elmer and Frances stayed in Weyburn the next 10 years with Elmer working many of those years at Arnot Mercury as one of their top salesmen. All 3 of Elmer and Fran’s children were born in Weyburn during this 10 year stay.
Elmer became even more involved with Weyburn’s sports scene with capacities in one form or another with the Weyburn Comets fastball, Beavers baseball, minor baseball and Red Wings hockey. He was also a referee in the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League.
An offer to become the first recreation director in Tisdale, Saskatchewan was accepted in 1968. Again, Elmer was active as a coach, continued refereeing and organizing referee clinics for youth. He was very helpful with renovations and changes at the Tidale golf course.
In 1976 Elmer and family moved to Lloydminster with an opportunity to get back into car sales, this time with General Motors.
He jumped right into coaching hockey shortly thereafter with Lloydminster Pee Wees and later with the Lloydminster Midgets. He was instrumental in bringing a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team to the city in 1982. He was also active as a WHL scout and MLB scout during the 1970’s.
In 1984 the family started a family a business in North Battleford, Saskatchewan where they remained until 1987 when the business was sold.
This brought Elmer and Frances back to Lloydminster where Elmer decided to return to his sales position with General Motors. During this time he became a very integral part of the Lloydminster Border Kings hockey team as a coach, manager and president.
Elmer and Frances remained in Lloydminster until 2003 and at this time were now retired. They made the decision to move back to Weyburn where Elmer did not slow down. He continued to volunteer, helping the Weyburn Beavers baseball team and fundraising for the golf club and the Red Wings hockey club.
Elmer renewed many old friendships and became a big part of his morning and afternoon coffee groups right up until late 2024. Everyone affectionately referred to him as “Google” as he knew who, what, when, where and how about most people – especially sport related.
Elmer was a tireless worker when it came to helping and enriching the sports and recreation scene in every town or city that he lived in. Some of his proud accomplishments include:
• Coaching minor hockey in Maidstone as a teenager
• Referee in the Canada Winter Games 1971
• Coaching Tisdale Midget hockey team to Provincial finals
• Helping install grass greens at the Tisdale Golf Club
• Coaching Lloydminster Midget A hockey team to Provincial championship in 1982
• Helping bring Lloydminster an SJHL hockey franchise in 1982
• Lloydminster Sportsman of the Year 1982
• Lloydminster Border Kings Allan Cup berth/host in 2000
• Lloydminster Border Kings Allan Cup championship in 2001 with a follow up trip to Poland to represent Canada in some exhibition games
• Honored on Lloydminster’s Hockey Wall of Fame in 2016
• Inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame 2019
• Reviving the Weyburn Beavers team in the early 2000’s
• Organizing the Legacy Golf Tournament to help fund renovations to the Weyburn Golf Club. His efforts earned him a lifetime membership at the course
Elmer was asked shortly before his passing what he felt his greatest accomplishment was. He quickly answered “ Oh, family” . He was always talking about his family and what they were doing on any given day. While being an incredible community man and gaining many, many friends along the way, he also had the love and admiration of his children and grandchildren. He will forever be loved and cherished .
A Celebration of Life for Elmer will be held on Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. from the Royal Canadian Legion, 150 ~ 3rd Street, Weyburn, SK.
For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Elmer may be made to
the Weyburn Beavers, Box 1091, Weyburn, SK, S4H 2L3 or the Weyburn Golf Course, Box 462, Weyburn, SK, S4H 2K3.
For those wishing to attend virtually, please follow the live stream video by opening Elmer’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel’s website starting at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Arrangements are entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Weyburn, SK
(848-0333 ~ 1-888-848-0333) Expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at: http://www.rdfuneralchapel.com “Honoring Life and Celebrating Memories"