John “Frank” Laiben, 97, of Festus died Sept. 12, 2024, at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur. Mr. Laiben was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He had worked as a contractor with Laiben Construction Co. and was the owner/operator of Frank Laiben Realty. He attended the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crystal City and the Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 1230, a longtime chairman on the Eagle Bank board of directors and the eldest member of the Elks Lodge 1721. Born May 20, 1927, in Jefferson County, he was the son of the late Agnes (Porter) Becker and the late John Fred Laiben.
He was preceded in death by his wife: Betty Louise (Duckworth) Laiben.
He is survived by three daughters: Regina (the late Lynn) Hollis of Leesburg, Fla., Mary Anne (Dr. Robert) Blankenship of Tulsa, Okla., and Therese (Dr. David) Akers of Tulsa, Okla.; six sons: Mark S. (Joyce) Laiben of Crystal City, Gerard (Susan) Laiben of Festus, John (Laurie) Laiben of Crystal City, Joseph (Dawn) Laiben of De Soto, Vincent Laiben of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and Paul Laiben of De Soto; a brother: Thomas (Jan) Laiben of Milton, Fla.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; five stepchildren: Terri Winchester of St. Louis, Richard (Karen) Winchester of Wildwood, Cynthia (Alan) Coffman of Ballwin, Robert (Maria) Winchester of O’Fallon and Wendy Winchester of St. Louis; and his stepchildren’s children and grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by a brother: Richard L. “Dick” (Doris survives of Crystal City) Laiben; a sister Patricia (Robert survives of Festus) Patterson; and a stepfather: Mitchell Becker.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. today, Sept. 16, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Our Lady Catholic Church, 1550 St. Mary’s Lane, in Festus, officiated by Father Michael Boehm. Burial will be in St. Anne Cemetery in French Village. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.