Theodore Leonard 'Ted' Hendrickson, 80

Ted went home to be with the Lord, unexpectedly, on Feb. 18, 2019.

He was the oldest child of Philip and Edna Hendrickson, born on Sept.7, 1938, in Everett, Washington. He graduated from Everett High School in 1956 and attended Seattle Pacific University on a basketball scholarship until he suffered an eye injury that ended his career. He joined the United States Air Force and was trained as a long-range radar technician. He served with the 658th AC & W squadron in Winnemucca, Nevada, for three years. It was there that he met Barbara Berk and they were married in Lovelock, Nevada, on Oct. 1, 1959. While he was finishing his fourth year of service, Ted and Barbara welcomed their first daughter, Susan. Upon completing his duty, Ted applied for the newly developing long-range radar technician program with the Federal Aviation Administration. He was accepted into the program and he moved his small family to Oklahoma City, where he attended school and their second daughter, Sharon, was born. Ted went on to have a long career with the Federal Aviation Administration, over the course of 33 years. He worked on mountaintop radar sites, which included Lovell, Wyoming, Lakeside, Montana, and Cascade, Idaho.

Ted was passionate and driven. This was evident in the energy he put into every hobby he undertook. His hobbies included fishing, fly tying, hunting, snowmobiling, photography, golfing, long-distance running, sailing, RVing, and woodworking. Ted was also a gifted singer and he enjoyed singing in his church choir, barbershop chorus, and participating in the Glacier Chorale.

Ted loved his Lord and this overflowed in the faithful way he loved his family and friends. Ted always took the time to inquire about others and was encouraging. He was a true, gentle, servant leader who was loved and will be deeply missed.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Edna Hendrickson.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara; daughters, Susan (Paul) Bray and Sharon (Steve) Thompson; grandchildren, Steven (Katie) Thompson, Sara (Ryan) Motley, Stacia (Kaleb) Topp, Shannon (Blake) Balcolm, Julia (Jon) Rocha, Samantha (Paul) Streich, Josh Bray and Scott Thompson; also his sisters, Karen (Glen) Gardiner and Judy (Don) Gulle; as well as 12 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Lake Blaine Baptist Bible Camp, C/O Faith Baptist Church, 2853 Briggs Street, Missoula MT 59803.