Dates

• Existence: 1912-

biographical statement

Frank Stillen (1912- ) was a Russian soldier in World War II.

Frank Stillen was born on August 29, 1912 in Tracy, Montana. His parents were Frank Tarpin and Johanna Martha Vehar. He was raised by Matt Stillen (Stilinovich before he changed it) and Johanna. He was one of four children. When he was four years old, they moved to Johnson city, Illinois, where his mother held a boarding house. They were then members of the Holy Rollers church. They moved to Belleville, Illinois in 1918. His foster father, Matt Stillen, joined and became very active in the Communist Pary in the 1920s. Because of this involvement, the family moved to Russia in 1922 to restore the industry of the nation. In 1927 and 1928 he went to the Fisherman's Trade School. He lived in various cities in Russia, including Vladivostok and Rostoff, working as a fisherman, shopkeeper, and miner. Several of his family members were arrested in Russia in the late 1930s. In 1939 he graduated from a Russian Industrial Institute as a Heating Engineer. He was conscripted on August 30, 1941 into an army battalion. He was taken as a German prisoner of war during the Second World War, but survived. He lived the rest of his life in Russia.

Citation:

Frank Stillen autobiography, MSS 8057. L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. (born on August 29, 1912 in Tracy, Montana to Frank Tarpin and Johanna Martha Vehar; raised by Matt Stillen (Stilinovich before he changed it) and Johanna; one of four children; four years old, they moved to Johnson city, Illinois, where his mother held a boarding house; members of the Holy Rollers church; moved to Belleville, Illinois in 1918; foster father, Matt Stillen, joined and became very active in the Communist Pary in the 1920s; family moved to Russia in 1922 to restore the industry of the nation; in 1927 and 1928 Stillen went to the Fisherman's Trade School; lived in various cities in Russia, including Vladivostok and Rostoff, working as a fisherman, shopkeeper, and miner; family members were arrested in Russia in the late 1930s; 1939 he graduated from a Russian Industrial Institute as a Heating Engineer; conscripted on August 30, 1941 into an army battalion; taken as a German prisoner of war during the Second World War, but survived; lived the rest of his life in Russia.)

Ancestry.com, May 25, 2012. (Frank Stillen, b. 1912). (lived in Belleville, Illinois).

"Frank Stilinovic/Stillen Autobiography." Our Stillen Roots. May 25, 2012. http://ourstillenroots.blogspot.com/2011/04/diary-part-1.html (born August 29, 1912 in Tracy, Montana; parents Johanna and Frank Tilpin, raised by Matt Stillen; one of four children; lived in Johnson City and Belleville, Illinois.)

Found in 1 Collection or Record: