Francis (Frank) Armstrong Madsen, Jr. was born January 6, 1931 in Salt Lake City, UT to Francis A. Madsen, Sr. and Elen Louise Wallace Madsen. He grew up in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Holladay. He attended East High School and then the University of Utah. In 1950, Frank accepted a call to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Canada Ontario mission. After returning to the U and while looking for summer work, he answered an ad requesting a young man to drive a lady and her two daughters from Utah to New York City. This job afforded him the opportunity to meet and get to know a lovely young lady by the name of Constance (Connie) Clayton. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on February 3, 1954. Frank later received additional degrees from the U including a JD, an MBA, and a commission in the Air Force, all on the same day in 1954.
‚ÄãAs a newlywed and new father, Frank managed Madsen Furniture Co., the family business, on Highland Drive for a few years before accepting his 1st lieutenant\s commission in the Air Force and serving as Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY. After 3 years, he resigned his commission and returned to the furniture store in Utah. When asked by Senator Orrin Hatch in 1976 to be his administrative assistant and chief of staff, Frank moved the family to McLean, VA and served in the Senate during Senator Hatch\s first two terms.‚Äã
‚ÄãIn July 1988, Frank retired from the Senate to accept a call from Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley to serve as the President of the Boston Massachusetts mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his mission service, he returned to Washington D.C. to represent the Church\s interests as chairman of its Public Affairs committee. In 1995, Frank and Connie came home to Utah where Frank spent his time serving on boards and fundraising for various foundations and causes that meant a lot to him including SUP, Utah Chamber Artists, Utah Family Foundation, and Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation, among others. ‚Äã
‚ÄãDuring Frank\s lifetime, he served in many Church leadership positions including bishop (3 times), counselor in a stake presidency, mission president, regional representative, and stake patriarch. He was always willing to serve in any capacity with energy and compassion. ‚Äã
‚ÄãFrank had a tender spot in his heart for those with special needs and tried to help where he could with time and means. He never gave more money than he could afford to lose, and never expected to be repaid so as to ensure that friendships would always remain.‚Äã
‚ÄãAt Frank\s passing, he and Connie had been married for nearly 65 years, and he held on long enough to celebrate Connie\s 86th birthday with her at home.‚Äã
‚ÄãFrank was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert Madsen (Caroline) and Richard Madsen (Doralee), and daughter Susan Moore Hofner (Mark). Frank is survived by wife Connie Clayton Madsen, sister Mary Lou Rawlings (Ben), brother Bill Madsen (Nancee), and children Michelle Ahlgren (Ralph), Karen Densford (Nick), David Madsen, and Kathleen Morrill (Tony), 18 grandchildren, and 10 1/2 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cottonwood Stake Center, 1830 East 6400 South. Friends and family may visit Friday, November 16th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.