Father Francis Bottler was born in Denver on July 28, 1912. He attended the St. Thomas Seminary, also in Denver. He was ordained on June 3, 1939, in Denver by Bishop Urban J. Vehr.
Father Bottler served as a U.S. Army Chaplain from 1943 to 1947.
While serving at Sacred Heart in Fruita, Father Francis Bottler proved to be very good with the high school students and formed a youth club. It is said that he would interview young people coming into the group in order to maintain quality time, not only for the Catholic youth but included anyone from the community.