Frank H. Balster Sr.

Frank Harmon Balster, Sr., age 83, of Jasper, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar.        Frank was born May 1, 1927 at Hartford, Kansas to William and Martha (Kramer) Balster.  During World War II, Frank served in the Merchant Marines.  He then began a 62 year career as an over-the-road truck driver, retiring in 2007 at the age of 81 from Standley Construction.  Frank was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting.  He was a natural and consummate story-teller whose humor brightened the days of his family and friends.  He was a member of Center Point Christian Church.        On March 20, 1980, at Miami, Oklahoma, Frank married Rosalee (Harvey) Neher and she survives of the home.  Also surviving are five sons and their wives, Steven & Donna Balster, Jasper, Frank, Jr. & Christie Balster, Northfield, Minnesota, Lynn & Megan Neher, Jasper, Donald & Jean Neher Chautta, Georgia, and Tony & Janet Neher, Jasper; five daughters and their husbands, Cynthia Balster, Cochranton, Pennsylvania, Mary Ann & Gordon Thomas, Rustin, Louisiana, Rebecca & Billy Scott, Bentonville, Arkansas, Lisa & Tom Heavener, The Colony, Texas, and Penny & Pete Welch, Jasper; two daughters-in-law, Nancy Neher and Treza Wilbur; a sister, Betty Percy, Kenoma, Missouri; 32 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by two sons, Danny and Terry Neher; two brothers, Don Shoemanker and Cecil Balster; and three sisters, Katherine Thomas, Florence Shoemaker and Judy Lewis.        Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 18th at Center Point Church northeast of Carthage.  Burial will be in Waters Cemetery northwest of Jasper.        Memorial contributions are suggested to Waters Cemetery in care of Daniel Funeral Home.