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Frederick Friel (January 15, 2013) |
Fred completed his 84 year journey here and passed on to the next on January 11, 2013. He was born to Margaret (Anderson) and Frederick Van Patten on July 16, 1928, in Amberg, Wisconsin. Many years later he was adopted by his stepfather, (Edwin) Ambrose Friel.
He spent his very young days with his beloved Grandmother Hannah and Grandfather Anderson on their farm in Wisconsin and often related how she made the best pancakes ever.
Later in his childhood, he moved to Deadwood, South Dakota and attended Deadwood Elementary School. The family moved to Spearfish and that is where he graduated from Spearfish High School in 1946. He then joined the Navy and served until 1950. Upon his return from the Navy he worked in construction in several places and enjoyed the outdoors.
In 1959, he married Clara Mae Caton and they settled in Spearfish. He worked with Ambrose in their business west of Spearfish, Valley Auto Parts. In 1973, Fred and Clara Mae sold the business and moved to town. In 1991, Fred and Clara Mae divorced and he never remarried.
Work took him to the missile silos across western South Dakota and to oil fields of Gillette, Wyoming. One of his favorite jobs was when he worked for the United States Forest Service in Spearfish and was paid to be in his favorite places.
He always appreciated the history of the Black Hills and the beauty within all wild and wide open spaces. He taught all his children how to fish, shoot and respectfully appreciate nature. He told them about the stars and the planets and the rocks and the trees and the flowers. There was always an excellent adventure when we all jumped in the back of the Scout and took a ride through the woods or to a picnic at a cabin with bunches of friends.
He carefully chose the most appropriately hilarious and droll birthday cards and we looked forward to them each year. He shared more gifts of knowledge than we will ever be able to count. He always had words of encouragement even when we didn’t listen. We pray those words stay with us now in our sorrow and remember how he loved us all.
He leaves behind many wonderful memories and four children. Jennifer (John) Kirk of Rapid City, South Dakota, Andrew (Yennifer) Friel, Spearfish, South Dakota, Paul (Jeanne “Penni”) Friel, Kodiak, Alaska and Samuel (Dawn) Friel, Wilson Creek Washington. His sons gave him seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents and many great friends.
Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 17, 2013 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Military Honors will be given by the Spearfish Honor Guard and the South Dakota Army National Guard.
Black Hills Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
Friends and family may sign his online guest register and leave written condolences at www.blackhillsfuneralhome.com.
