Frederick Herman Krause

Frederick Herman Krause, 90, "Broke Camp" for one last time on April 12, 2010 at the Montana Veteran's Home in Columbia Falls.

Fred was born near Polson to Edith (Rein) and Herman Krause on Jan. 20, 1920 and spent his early years there before moving with the family to the Bad Rock area near Columbia Falls.

He spent time in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the late '30s before moving to the Seattle area.

Fred was at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, as a civilian worker and was at sea when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was in Dutch Harbor on the two occasions when it was bombed. Returning to Seattle, he worked in ship building until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served with the Navy Construction Battalion, "CBs". He saw action in the Gilbert and Marshall island campaigns and on Iwo Jima where he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on May 13, 1945.

Returning to the Flathead after the war, he met and married Minnie Hissong on Sept. 15, 1945 at her parents' home in Somers. They were blessed with five children and more than 64 years together.

Fred was a logger without equal and a road builder. He was always proud of having built the Peter's Ridge Road to the Jewel Basin area. Weather logging, wood cutting and hunting were his greatest passions. He also farmed for many years west of Whitefish in the Bissell community. One of his special joys was to get the Christmas Tree for the Bissell School.

Fred was a man who worked hard but cared deeply for others and will be missed.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother and one grandson, Craig.

He is survived by his wife, Minnie at Colonial Manor in Whitefish; one sister Colleen Schafer of Bothell, Wash.; daughter, Myrna and husband James Dull of Columbia Falls; sons, Fred Edwin of Columbia Falls, Harold and wife Caroline of Whitefish, Mark William of Pablo, Steven Paul of Homer, Alaska, 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation was Thursday, April 22, 2010 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service was Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, Pastor Darrell Newby officiated. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery with Graveside Military Honors by the United Veterans of the Flathead and the Montana Army National Guard.