Francis Sweet passed away on January 26, 2023 in Fortuna.

Francis was born in Ferndale in 1933 and graduated from Ferndale High in 1951. During high school he worked at the Ferndale Enterprise. While in high school Francis was involved in FFA, and that is where he was introduced to raising sheep. Francis was a private in the Army serving two years in Korea. Upon his return from Korea he went back to work for the Connick Livestock Company and then CalTrans, where he retired, enabling him to ranch full-time in Petrolia.

Francis was an active member of the community and had many varied interests. Francis belonged to the Korean Veterans group and at the time of his passing was their Vice President. He was a member of the VFW in Ferndale. Francis belonged to the Danish Lodge for 62 years and had passed through all the chairs at various points, he belonged to the Dania Lodge, he was a member of the Adult Danish Dance Team, performing at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival each year.

Francis was a member of the California Wool Growers association for 64 years, holding various positions during that time, assisting with the annual Wool Growers lamb barbecue in Fortuna. Francis belonged to the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Ferndale. Francis was very knowledgeable of our local Humboldt County and Ferndale history and his own ancestors and their journey to Ferndale. Many reached out to Francis to identify people or places in old photos. Francis loved to play cards, especially Pedro. Francis held an annual 4th of July picnic out at the ranch in Petrolia and provided pit lamb and a dance floor for those who knew how to do a polka. Francis loved to dance — square dancing and Danish Folk dancing were two of his favorites.

Francis is survived by Delores Scales, his children, Connie HagQuist (Ron), Becky Sweet, Sandy Aguiar, Clara Sherrill (Gary) and Daniel Barney (Silvana). He is also survived by his 16 grandchildren, Hannah HagQuist, Rachel HagQuist, Justin Ammons, Crystal Sweeney, Alexis Aguiar, Mariah Aguiar, Ray Sherill, Keith Sherrill, Amanda Bunnell, Katina DeNune, Jamie DeNune, Tony DeNune, Clayton Johnson, Jessie Johnson, Kevin Barney and Tamara Barney and 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great great-grandchildren. Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Mildred Sweet, his second wife Lorana Sweet, daughters, Lynne Johnson and Dona Callender, son-in-law Mark DeNune, granddaughter Lorana Johnson and great-grandson Wesley.

Services for Francis will be held on February 11, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 425 Shaw Avenue, Ferndale CA 95536, with a Celebration of Life to immediately follow at the Danish Hall, 430 Ocean Avenue, Ferndale.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Francis Sweet’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.