Frances Sturm was born January 4, 1865, at Braunsried, Kreis Schwandorf, Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. She was the daughter of the unmarried couple Barbara "Maria Barbara" Sturm (born in Braunsried) and Andreas Pierzl (born in Unterlangau, Kreis Schwandorf). Baptism was held on the same day, officiated by Father Fraundorfer of the parish Braunsried; the witness was Franziska Schiessl from Braunsried.

Frances emigrated from Germany on the SS Rhein and arrived at the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, March 11, 1887. She was traveling with her sister Barbara Sturm (Mrs. Joseph Schweitzer) and mother. Passenger number 830 listed "Adam" Lehner, but this was actually Bartholomew "Bartl" Lehner who was traveling using his brother Adam's passport. Bartl, from Schömersdorf, was the husband-to-be of Frances Sturm.

Frances Sturm and Bartl Lehner were married on October 22, 1889, at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin; the officiant was Father Stephen Duren. They settled on a farm north of Plain in the Township of Franklin in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Bartl and Frances' first home was a log house that had been built during the Civil War by the Thomas Claridge family. A new brick home was built nearby in 1907. The log house was used as a chicken house for many years until it was torn down in the 1950s.

Bartl and Frances had eight children: Margaret Frances Lehner (Mrs. John Bindl), Anna Barbara Lehner (Mrs. Henry Ringelstetter/Mrs. Daniel Nachreiner), Elizabeth C. Lehner (Mrs. Walter Brei), Mary Barbara Lehner (Mrs. Herman Ringelstetter), Joseph John Lehner, Aloysius Bartholomew Lehner, John George Lehner, and Catherine Theresa Lehner (Mrs. Joseph Prem).

After a long illness, Frances died at age 60 of thyroid cancer on August 14, 1925. Funeral services were held Monday, August 17th, at St. Luke's church, Plain, Rev. Fr. Surges officiating.