Donald Fredrikso

A remembrance is being planned for mid-August.

Donald R. Don Fredrikson passed away Monday, July 12, 2010, just five days before his favorite concert of the year Symphony under the Stars and one week before his 99th birthday.

Don, the first of five boys, was born on the family farm in Davenport, ND on July 19, 1911 to Gertrude (Monson) and Henry Fredrikson. Shortly after his father died in the 1918 flu epidemic, the family moved to Fargo, ND. Don was a 1931 graduate of Fargo High School and a 1935 graduate of North Dakota State University. While at NDSU, he was an active member of the SAE Fraternity and the Blue Key Honor Fraternity. He served one year as Assistant Editor to the Bison Year Book before assuming the role as Editor during his senior year. Don loved people and music with a melody. He played with the NDSU Gold Star Band for all four years of college. To pay his way through college, he played his clarinet and his alto and tenor saxophone's with the George Collings Vagabonds. During Don's junior year in college, he took over the band and renamed it the Don Fredrikson Dance Orchestra, which played for college, fraternity, and summer dances in western Minnesota, throughout North Dakota and as far west as Baker, Montana.After graduating from college, Don worked for the Universal Credit Corporation/Ford Motor Finance, the position that he held when he met Valeria D. Gergen. In May of 1938, he married Valeria in a service held in Great Falls, MT. Between 1942 and 1947, Don served in Minnesota in a civilian position with the Chicago District Army Ordnance, with a short assignment at the Pentagon. From 1947 to 1951 he worked for the First National Bank of Helena. Some of the most fun Don had was selling Jeeps during the time he and a partner owned Frontier Motors from 1951 to 1963.

Don's final official employment, until his retirement in 1976, was with the Union Bank and Trust Company.Even before Don's official employment ended, he was already known for generously volunteering his time. After his retirement, donating his time and energy became his occupation, whether as a board member or an advisor or soliciting donations for numerous organizations in Helena. He loved every minute of it and was recognized for his service with numerous awards.

Don was committed to his family. He was a devoted husband who took care of Valeria at their home during her extended illness. He was a remarkable father who taxied his daughter and her friends to a number of sporting events outside of the Helena area. He was a strong and faithful supporter of grandchildren in their youth as well as in adulthood. He attended annual reunions with his brothers and their families and kept in touch with the most extended of family members.

Don's wife (Valeria) and all four of Don's brothers (Earl, Harold, Graydon and Lynn) proceeded him in death. He is survived by his daughter (Abbie), his three grandchildren (Brett, Deborah, Charles) and his great-granddaughter (Madison).

Don's family and friends will miss his genuine smile

and can-do attitude. A remembrance is being planned for mid-August. Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home are entrusted with local arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Those wishing to share short stories about Don, to be shared with guests at the social, are invited to send an e-mail or short note to his granddaughter:Deborah PenceP.O. Box 2434Corvallis, OR 97331-2434 - deborah.pence@oregonstate.edu