Old Missoula

 

Francis M. Superneau

 

 

Portrait of a Civic Leader

 

 

 

Francis Superneau, F.M., as many have called him, is well known by numerous native Missoulians from that group Tom Brokaw calls the “Greatest Generation”. He is of that generation. Born in Phillipsburg, Montana of pioneer parents, Bertha and William Superneau in 1913, he was and is the last of their six children. His upbringing was hard and without many luxuries, not unlike the childhood of many Montanan’s growing up in the numerous bergs scattered across our vast state. When he tells tales of walking two miles to school in raging blizzards, temperatures 30 degrees below, through snow drifts five feet high, they are true! If you don’t believe it, just go to “P-Berg” sometime in January, if you dare.

 

 

His mother was left to raise six children in near poverty when her husband died before Francis Marion was born. His father, a miner and mill worker in the manganese concentrator, succumbed to black lung disease without much or any savings, insurance or even a house. The family lived in a rented three-room wood framed clapboard house high on a hillside above the narrow gully that was the main street of this worn mining village. To Francis, this was the world. Missoula was a far off metropolis, a place of dreams and opportunities for which he was unknowingly preparing. Among the lessons he learned in addition to the “three R’s” of course, was thrift, as well as honesty, integrity, generosity, humility, perseverance and drive. He knew he could succeed if only he could get to Missoula and find the right opportunities. With his “three R’s”, he earned mostly A’s. Especially quick with numbers and math, accounting and business seemed a natural choice for a career.

 

 

A small scholarship to Montana State University (in Missoula) was not quite enough to see him enter that institution of higher learning. Instead, after working part time at Penny’s for two years, he moved to the Missoula metropolis in 1933, living with his oldest sister, Mayme, and her husband while he worked at the prestigious Missoula Mercantile. He worked on the third floor (most people did not know there was a third floor) with C. H. McCloud, scion of the emporium. This was the hub of the wholesale business of the “Merc”. Francis dealt with merchandise called “dry goods” a term long since antiquated.

 

 

Fortunately work place romances were not forbidden, because Francis met and was smitten by a lovely young native Missoula lass, Helen Schramm, a clerk in the accessories department. He has recently said that after meeting Helen, he had no more choices available, he was in love, no one else and nowhere else could even be considered without her. The courtship proceeded cautiously and progressively until marriage resulted in November of 1942. He did, however, change jobs anyway, working for a short stint with the Daly Motor Company and then with the Interstate Lumber Company in their accounting departments, continuing his higher education, at “Real World U”. The couple, not having seen or experienced much of the rest of the world, moved briefly to Spokane in March 1943, Francis working at J.W. Graham Stationary Wholesalers. Sorely missing family and the comforting confines of the graceful Missoula valley, in November of the same year they returned for good. J.S. Yandt and Sons, one of Missoula’s four fine men’s retail clothing stores, located midway up North Higgins Avenue, quickly hired Francis for his broad experience based education and can do attitude. But, after only six months, the small matter of the Second World War gave pause to Superneau’s pursuit of business success, civic duty and family. He was drafted into the US Army and shipped to Texas for basic training.

 

 

Putting his organizational, clerical and mathematical talents to good use, contrary to usual Army policy, Superneau, Francis M. was assigned to stock keeping and supplies. He was posted to the “dangerous” paradise of Scofield Barracks on the north shore of Oahu, where his nimble fingers danced across the old Underwood “keyboards” keeping the troops covered with the best American khakis available, and supplied with dozens of other necessities. While good friends he made in Honolulu and the seductive beauty of the trade wind paradise beckoned him back constantly, his dedication to family, community and business kept him and the family in Missoula with only short vacations away until 1965, when a three week return to paradise was possible.

 

 

After returning from the sands of Waikiki in 1946, F.M. (as his brothers-in-law nicknamed him), went back to work at Yandts Men’s Wear, on the corner of Higgins and Pine. The clothing store, already a long time resident Missoula’s downtown core, was very much an establishment of high quality goods for everyone from the logger, rancher, truck driver and general working man to the fashionable contemporary cognoscenti of Missoula, doctors, bankers, lawyers and professors. The store was thought of “as-one-size-fits-all”. The clothing, however, was all sized and even custom ordered to fit. The store motto, used for years was “The Store for Men, and Women Who Shop for Men”, a bold, straight approach to a mostly male customer base. Francis, like the store, had a straight approach to business and life as well: work hard, take care of family, participate in community organizations and promote the good of the entire community. He is a lifetime member of the Hellgate Lodge of the Elks, and a 50-year member of the Order of Masons, Harmony Lodge 49. As an owner of Yandts he was a member of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and first president of the Downtown Association, and Francis is a still-standing member of the Holy Spirit Parish of the Episcopal Church. In each of these organizations he was not only a member, but also an active participant and even a leader, serving on and chairing numerous committees and ad hoc groups, even while tending to business and family matters. When the Little League Baseball organization needed volunteers to build new fields for their sons’ dreams, Francis was right there, on first baseline spreading dirt, planting grass and building fences.

 

 

The rigors of business, moving up from talented employee to business manager to partner in 1959 and finally in 1968 to sole stockholder of Yandt’s Men’s Wear, now owned by the F&S Corporation, kept him from more active participation in civic and public affairs. Then in 1977 reaching the magic age of 65 he decided for a bit of relief and sold the business to “retire”. Ha!

 

 

Francis and Helen had successfully raised two sons, Roger and Greg, who were now both out of the house, and embued with their parent’s work and life ethics. At least the boys were not calling home for money or bail bonds.

 

 

Freed of the rigors of day to day business amounting to 55 to 60 hour weeks, and most family responsibilities, Francis continually took on more and more freelance business activities. He began providing accounting services to a number of people and businesses in Missoula. This too was not enough, and golf was too boring. Missoula, Francis’s adopted and much loved home now beckoned him to become involved in more civic affairs.

 

 

At the bequest of the University Homeowners Association, he was recruited and appointed to the City Council in 1980 to complete the term of Dick Smith who had resigned. Finding that he had a meaningful reasoned voice on the council, Francis ran for re-election and was sent back to the council for a second term representing the 4^th ward. He also took on responsibilities of membership in MRA (Missoula Redevelopment Agency) to help foster good growth for the whole community as well as downtown. He served on this agency board for five years from 1985 to 1990, fostering goodwill and mediating among the diverse interests represented by all members and constituents. In 1985 Mr. Superneau was appointed to the parking commission by mayor Bill Craig (also a great Little League coach) to provide another businesspersons’ view of Downtown and help devise a solution the parking problem that had long been hampering Missoula’s downtown development.

 

 

“The wonderful first automobile arrived in Missoula in 1901. Each year since, problems have developed and a big one was parking. Even when I worked at the M M Co. in the 30’s, parking was scarce, although personally I had no problem – no car or I didn’t own the business. As Missoula grew (and it surely did) problems increased. Mayor Juliet Gregory introduced parking meters to help correct a bad situation, not add to the coffers! Then, owning a store, meters alone were not adequate. Since I had a great interest in saving downtown, it was obvious there was a real need for a parking structure. Having been on City Council, MRA & MPC enabled me to support downtown businesses to build a “Parking Garage” Every time we drive by this handsome building (Central Park on Main Street) I feel proud & pleased, as well as (do) my family, to have been a “big pusher””.

 

 

Even though “proud and pleased” Francis has never sought the limelight. He has never taken credit when not due. Quite the opposite, he eschewed and declined any attempt to single him out and put him in front of others, or to create any monuments in his name. He plays down the part he played in improvements in Missoula’s down town, and its success in staying alive, even flourishing, amidst the competition of the suburban malls, strip centers, and now, big boxes. He gives credit to the others on the council and commissions on which he served, as a true civic leader would.

 

 

The small, albeit significant, gesture of putting the name Francis M. Superneau on this parking garage is certainly his due and fitting to his contributions to Missoula.

 

 

I thank everyone who has helped with this project, especially Anne Guest whose enthusiasm and “take charge” approach has been overwhelming. Thanks also to Jerry Ballas, who I first approached and who gave positive support and suggested actions to accomplish my idea for naming a parking garage for my Dad. I also thank Jeff Badenoch for his backing for naming the structure and support of Francis during his tenure on the MRA. Thank you also to all members of the MPC, the MRA and the City Council and Mayor who too have also played a tremendous part in making the parking structures a reality and making Missoula the best city in Montana.

 

 

This is my small way to say thanks Dad for all you have done for Missoula and me.

 

 

Roger A. Superneau

 

Helen Schramm Superneau

MISSOULA – Helen Superneau, 100, of Missoula, passed away the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at the Riverside Health Care Center of natural causes.

She was born Jan. 10, 1915, in Missoula at home on West Spruce Street, the first child of John and Blanche Schramm. She was raised in Missoula and lived all but a few months of her life in Missoula. Missoula was in her blood.

Even though her attendance at the University of Montana, where she studied French and art, was terminated by severe allergies, her active participation in Delta Gama Sorority was lifelong. A trip to the national convention in Miami as the alumni delegate was the highlight of her sorority membership.

Having a natural gift and enjoyment for art and having studied design in school, she drew and painted for the family throughout her life.

Working at the Missoula Mercantile during the late 1930s in the women’s ready-to wear department, Helen met the love of her life, Francis Superneau, from Philipsburg. Their marriage on Nov. 22, 1942, lasted for 67 years, until his death at age 96.

While raising two rambunctious boys, but maintaining a generally tranquil, secure home environment, Helen was able to help care for her mother and volunteer for many civic and Holy Spirit Parish Episcopal Church activities, such as testing children for glaucoma and multiple bake sales, as well as shop at the “Merc.”

After retiring from a domestic career, Helen joined Francis at Yandt’s Men’s Wear until they sold the store in the mid 1970s. Helen not being ready for retirement joined the crew at the Kiddie Shop in Missoula. They both had a profound sense of style and good taste, always dressing to match their joy of life.

Although dedicated to Montana and Missoula, Helen and Francis made many trips to Portland, a trip to the East Coast to visit family and made long desired trips to Hawaii, Mexico and Europe. In retirement they made winter sojourns to San Diego and Maui.

Her life was filled with a love of family and friends. People were her passion, helping people, loving people, entertaining people, remembering people and giving to people. Once you were Helen’s friend, you were her for life.

Over the years she developed a wry sense of humor, and ease of living that, along with a strong survival instinct and hearty stamina, the result of healthy living, led to her great longevity and clear mind. Until nearly the very end, her encyclopedic memory reached back to three-years-old.

Her husband, Francis predeceased her in 2009. She is survived by her two sons, Roger (Barbara Heimberger Superneau) of Portland, Oregon, and Greg (Pam LeTellier Superneau) of Missoula. She loved and doted on her two granddaughters, Laura (Jorge Valdebenito), who reside in Santiago, Chile, and Adrienne Superneau (Ivan Lane), who reside in Eugene, Oregon. Her special joy and love was her great-granddaughter, Olivia Helen Valdebenito, whom she was fortunate to meet on several occasions. She is also survived by her step-grandson Travis Mendenhall (Jeanette Deyo, and son Bastion). Other surviving family members include numerous nieces and nephews.

No services are planned. Interment will be by family at a later date.

The family requests memorials to the Parkinson’s Foundation of Oregon, 3975 SW Mercantile Drive, Suite 254, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 or Missoula Aging Services, 337 Stephens Ave. Missoula, MT 59801, or the organization of the donor’s choice.

The above obituary appeared in the Missoulian on Sept. 16, 2015.