Clarence Frank Rydeen, 80

Clarence Frank Rydeen “went to be with Jesus” on his 80th birthday, June 22, 2017, at home surrounded by family.

Born June 22, 1937, in Kalispell, he graduated high school there in 1955. He entered the Air Force in 1956 after working a year in the local saw mill. After five years teaching and writing training manuals for the Air Force in Biloxi, Mississippi, he moved to Florida to work for Douglas Aircraft on the “Skybolt” Missile project. While there he met and married his wife, Gerry, on July 5, 1963.

He worked a year on an RCA missile tracking ship in the South Atlantic. Returning home, he completed his bachelor’s and master’s in engineering science at Florida State University. He worked in the FSU High Energy Physics department for 15 years. While there he became father to three sons and one daughter.

He served as deacon and elder at First Christian Church of Tallahassee, Florida. He and his wife started the College Youth Fellowship, which later became the Christian Campus House at FSU. Throughout their lives the family enjoyed snorkeling in the gulf and oceans besides backpacking in the Smoky, Sierras and Rocky mountains.

In 1982, the family moved to California where he worked as lead engineer on Reagan’s Star Wars project, Following which he worked in private industry, developing numerous items in the medical, dental and industrial fields. In 1989 he was called to be the deputy chief engineer at the Super Conducting Super Collider in Dallas. After four years he moved back to Laurin, Montana, where he had maintained a summer home. He consulted with various firms from the East to West coasts. In 2002 he was tasked with developing two companies in Puerto Rico. His wife and eldest son moved there with him for four years. He continued consulting until he retired due to illness in his late 70s.

He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, hunting, hiking, swimming and reading.

He will be missed by his wife of 54 years, his four children, their spouses and his five grandchildren and siblings.

Please join friends and family in celebrating Frank’s life at a memorial service at 3 p.m. on July 29 at Ruby Valley Bible Church in Sheridan, Montana. A reception will be held after the service.