The Good Life – May-June 2024

ON THE COVER | FRANK HUNKLER
Frank Hunkler’s story starts in 1950, when
he was born on a farm and ranch near
Napoleon, North Dakota. Raised in a
family of 10 children, he knew he was
different very early in life.
“If I was born today, I’d probably
be a scientist, tech wizard or
something along those lines.
Unfortunately, my parents
and teachers thought I was
lazy and dim-witted, as I
struggled to learn. Left
alone, I could figure things
out. That type of learning
didn’t work back then.”
When Frank turned 18, he
signed up for the draft. Days
after turning 19, at Fort
Lewis Washington,
he was promoted to
Sergeant E5 and
was one of seven
noncommissioned
officers assigned
to a company of four
platoons. Frank’s charges,
the 4th Platoon, were made up
of a diverse group of men from all
over the country and with different
ethnicities. He led them alone and
they were the honor platoon.
“I was a 150-pound gay, autistic,
white farm boy from North
Dakota,” Frank says, with little
exposure to folks of other races
or cultures.
He served admirably in war and was
awarded 2 Bronze Stars, one with “V” for
valor, along with numerous other badges and
medals. “I was more afraid of being killed by
another soldier because I would not tolerate
racism, than I was of being killed by the
“enemy.”” The seed of Frank’s future work
was planted during his time in the military,
where he learned he had more in common
with every person than different. He learned
to love everyone unconditionally.
Upon returning home, Frank spent time at
North Dakota State University and Moorhead
State University. Though he struggled in the
classroom, he was learning the early stages
of mentorship through his summer projects.
He organized youth employment projects and
wrote grants to help pay for the programs,
geared towards at-risk youth.
When learning challenges made a college
degree impossible, he left and started contract
cleaning. Working hard cleaning was what he
enjoyed most from the farm, and he decided
to turn it into a career.
Frank hit a bump in the road in 1979 and
spent some time in prison. During his
incarceration, he realized that he was an
addict. Along with 4 other inmates, he started
a peer mentoring program.
“Prison saved my life” Frank says simply. “I
learned to find someone worse off than me
and help them out. There are no problems,
only solutions.”
Addicts are often looked down upon, as if they
have failed in life. That’s an entirely wrong way
of think, according to Frank. “Addicts aren’t
only people with chemical dependencies, but
those addicted to anything! Food, sex, gaming.
Anything.”
20 | THE GOOD LIFE