Clint Fretland

Prayer Service: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral Service: Thursday, October 5, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Interment: Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Miles City with full military rites provided by VFW Post 1579

Clinton W. Fretland, age 80, of Miles City passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 28, 2006 at his home in Miles City.

Clint was born on October 21, 1925 on the family farm at Tioga, North Dakota, the son of Lars and Ida (Mallander) Fretland. He attended grade school near the farm and graduated from Tioga High School in 1943. Following his schooling, he entered the United States Navy, serving on the USSPondera until the conclusion of World War II. Clint attended The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks where he majored in Social Studies and English. Clint then moved to Scobey, Montana, where he taught and coached junior high basketball from 1952-54. He moved to Miles City in 1954 to continue his teaching career. Clint was always known for continuing his education. He spent the summer of 1958 studying Spanish in Monterrey, Mexico. He also spent the summers of 1961 and 1962 studying at the University of Kansas in Lawrence where he completed his minor in Spanish. He coached junior high basketball from the late 50's to mid 60's. On March 3, 1961, Clint married Jean Egge in Roundup, Montana. They made their home in Miles City which was known as the Fretland Farm on Haynes. This is where he ran his dairy cattle and later beef cattle operation until his demise. Clint retired from teaching in 1986. In the mid 1970's, Clint and Social Studies teacher Jennifer Maxwell wrote a book entitled, "Kids, Cops, Courts, and the Law". The book was used throughout Montana, other states and other countries in schools as an educational tool for students to learn about law.

Clint's main passion in life was his cows. His four-legged children were milked twice a day. He did this up until the time of his passing. He also loved looking for agates and petrified wood. He also loved learning about other cultures. He exercised his mind on a daily basis by doing crossword puzzles andsudoku.

Clint had many wonderful qualities that made him a truly great man. His most famous trait was that he was extremely quick-witted. He told great jokes and was a prolific storyteller. He truly enjoyed making people laugh. He loved to put a smile on your face and always saw the best in everyone no matter who you were. He was the supreme optimist and always had a positive outlook on everything. He accepted everyone as equal regardless of skin color, religion, or socio-economic status. He made you feel as if you were the most important person in the world. His family meant everything to him.

Clint is survived by his wife, Jean Fretland of Miles City, MT; two sons; Lynn Danklefsen of Miles City, MT; and Jeff Fretland of El Paso, TX; two daughters: ElinAhmadpour and her husband Naser of Miles City, MT; and Medora Burgess and her husband Jack of Sidney, MT; two sisters: Lily Linn of Victor, ID; and IleaneBiwer of Bismarck and Tioga, ND; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, two sisters and a granddaughter, ParisaAhmadpour.

A prayer service will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Miles City with full military rites provided by VFW Post 1579. Friends wishing to send condolences to the family may do so by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.