Frances Launstein 03/09/2025

Frances Louise Bournland Launstein, nee Sedwick, age 98 of River Falls, WI died on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Our House Senior Living in River Falls. Frances was born the daughter of Edwin and Helen (Griffith) Sedwick on August 1, 1926, in Lansing, MI. She grew up in Saginaw, MI, graduating from Saginaw High School with the class of 1944. Frances worked at the theater in Saginaw before becoming an operator for Bell Telephone Company. She married Orval James Bourland on March 12, 1945. Frances spent a short time in California before moving back to Michigan while Orval completed his military service. After a few years at home starting their family in Lansing, MI, Frances went to work on the assembly line for Oldsmobile Corporation where she spent 10 years. She as a nurse’s aide at Sparrow Hospital and also worked for a bank, a credit union and Sears & Roebuck Store before going to work for the State Of Michigan for 10 years. Frances and Orval moved to Florida where they managed a condominium and Frances started working for J.C. Penny Company where she spent the next 30 retiring at the age of 85. Orval died in 1994 and in 2014 Frances married to Russell Launstein whom she had known as a neighborhood friend when they were kids in Saginaw. Russell died in 2021. Frances moved from Michigan to the Birchwood Apartments in Baldwin, WI when it became necessary to be closer to family and in 2023 moved into Our House Senior Living in River Falls, WI. She enjoyed playing cards, bowling, sewing and crocheting. In later years she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and reading. She was an avid supporter of her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. Frances loved to cook and bake for her family and friends. She was hardworking, kind, generous and a loving mother and grandmother. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Helen Sedwick; husbands, Orval Bourland Sr. and Russell Launstein; grandson, Landon Bourland; siblings, Richard (Marion) Sedwick, Gordon Sedwick, Jack (Alvina) Sedwick, Viola Day; and brothers-in-law, Robert Weber and Richard Schnieder. Frances is survived by her children, James (Jacqueline) Bourland, Gordon (Carolyn) Bourland, John (Susan) Bourland, Helen (Robert) Usiak, William Bourland, Lawrence (Karen Woods) Bourland, and Connie (Larry) Ames; 20 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 6 great great-grandchildren; sisters, Joanne Weber and Barbara Schnieder; sister-in-law, Joanne Westendorf; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A Celebration of Frances’ Life will be held on August 1, 2025 at the Christian Reform Church in Baldwin, WI. Please check back for the time of the service. A future Michigan celebration is yet to be determined.