Donald Fricke

Donald Fricke, 72,

Minot, ND, passed away

unexpectedly Sunday,

March 18, 2018, at Trinity

Hospital in Minot.

Donald Fred Fricke was

born May 5, 1945, in

Minot. Don was the

youngest of six children

born to Harvey and Mae

(Blair) Fricke. He was

raised and educated in

Minot and attended Minot

High School.

After high school, Don

lived in California prior to

joining the United States

Army on March 4, 1965.

He proudly served his

country and was stationed

at Fort Bragg, North Caro-

lina, and then in the Dom-

inican Republic where he

was a paratrooper. He was

honorably discharged

March 1, 1968.

Following his honorable

discharge, he returned to

Minot, where he began his

employment with the

Minot Park District where

he eventually became the

Superintendent of the

Roosevelt Zoo.

Don married Carmen

Farstad June 1, 1973, in

Bottineau, ND. They

made their home in Minot

and together welcomed a

son, Brian on July 11,

1974, and later a

daughter, Jessica on June

23, 1978.

He was a charter

member of Bread of Life

Lutheran Church.

Don played fastpitch

softball for many years as

a pitcher, played in

numerous tournaments

and helped lead his team

to a state title. He enjoyed

hunting and fishing with

his family and friends. He

loved being at the lake,

going as soon as the snow

was gone in the spring

and staying until the last

moment in the fall. He al-

ways looked forward to

having morning coffee

and afternoon happy hour

with the guys. He was al-

ways generous with his

time helping others and

telling stories. Most of all,

he enjoyed spending time

at the lake with family

and friends, especially his

children and grandchil-

dren.

His loving family in-

cludes: wife of 44 years,

Carmen; son and

daughter-in-law, Brian

(Michele) Fricke, Minot;

daughter, Jessica Fricke

Ehli, Minot; grandchil-

dren, Jacob, Anne and

Madison Fricke; and Brex-

ton and Tatum Ehli;

brother, Leroy (Darla)

Fricke, Minot; sisters, Ida

Campbell, Stanton, KY,

and Arlene Elam, Stanton,

KY; sister-in-law, Maxine

Fricke; and nieces and

nephews.

Don was preceded in

death by: his parents,

Harvey and Mae Fricke;

father-in-law and

mother-in-law, Oliver and

Anna Farstad; brothers,

Robert and Edward

Fricke; brothers-in-law,

Clay Campbell and Vern

Elam.

Memorial Service: Fri-

day, March 23, 2018, at

11:00 a.m. at Bread of Life

Lutheran Church, Minot.

Visitation: There will be

no reviewal but friends

may sign the register book

on Thursday from 5 to 7

p.m. at Thompson-Larson

Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: In lieu of

flowers, memorials are

preferred to Metigoshe

Ministries, Bread of Life

Lutheran Church or to an

organization of the

donor’s choice.

Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may ac-

cess the online obituaries

section at

(www.thompson

larson.com).