Obituary of Frank Andrew Finlayson

The toughest man we’ll ever know with a heart as big as the Idaho mountains he loved, Frank Andrew Finlayson, 88, of the Magic Valley and more recently Kuna, passed away on November 8, 2021, at a Boise hospital of natural causes with his family by his side.

He was first born to parents Frank and Louisa on June 21, 1933, in Shoshone, Idaho. He grew up with siblings Chuck and Betty in and around Shoshone. Frank loved his summers as a teenager spent ranching in the Sawtooth Basin. He graduated from Shoshone High School in 1951.

Frank married the love of his life, Arleen Bean from Wendell, on her 18^th birthday; they’ve been married for 66 years. They began raising a family a year after marriage with sons Rod and later Frank. As a family they loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, and camping.

Frank’s adult life was spent in the heavy diesel truck industry. They moved to Moab, Utah, where he maintained a uranium hauling truck fleet.  The family moved back to the Magic Valley in Twin Falls in 1967 where Frank was a foreman for United Oil’s truck repair division. He started up and managed Rangen Inc. truck and equipment division in 1974 and later managed maintenance of Wagner Transportation’s truck fleet. Frank worked hard all his life to provide for and raise his family. He and Arleen moved to Kuna in 2001 to be closer to their sons and grandkids.

Frank loved hard work and was a natural leader, leading by example and always with heart. He could fix anything and was always quick to help.  Dad was the toughest man with the softest heart; He survived bone cancer, bladder cancer, and skin cancer yet could be brought to tears from proud family moments, a line in a greeting card, or a happy greeting from his puppy. Frank was the happiest when spending time with his family no matter what they were doing, work or play.

Frank is survived by his wife, M. Arleen Finlayson, son Rodney L. Finlayson and wife Betty, son Frank S. Finlayson Sr. and wife Robyn, sister Betty Clayton, sister-in-law Rosalie Finlayson, 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Frank was predeceased by his father, Frank Finlayson, mother, Louisa Finlayson, and brother Charles Finlayson.

A private family funeral service will be held.