Frederick Ellsworth Eastman, 78
Frederick Ellsworth Eastman, 78, passed away Friday, Feb. 11, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
He was born May 18, 1926, in Richey, to Henry Ellsworth and Myrtle Myral (Glenn) Eastman. He was the seventh of 14 children. The family moved to Park Grove and then to Nashua, where he attended school through 10th grade. He left Nashua to work in the shipyards in Bremerton, Wash.
On Jan. 18, 1944, at the age of 16, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Shea in the Pacific. On May 4, 1945, the USS Shea was hit by a Baka bomb near Okinawa and Fred was one of the surviving crew rescued at sea. He was honorably discharged in February 1946 and returned to Nashua.
He was hired as a brakeman on the railroad, but due to his young age he was unable to keep that job. He worked on both Fort Peck Dam and Hungry Horse Dam, and then began his career in construction. He was a master carpenter and superintendent, working for Montana Builders for 31 years and retired from Dearborn Construction in 1990. During his years with Montana Builders he built many schools and commercial buildings in the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana.
On March 27, 1947, Fred married the love of his life, Alyce Lorraine Goodwin. They met at Norms News in Kalispell and were married in Polson. They would have celebrated their 58th anniversary in March of this year. Fred and Alyce lived in Glasgow and Fort Peck and moved to Somers in 1951. There they raised their five children and Fred built their dream home.
Fred was active in the community, working with the Boy Scouts, serving on the Somers School Board, the Somers Sewer District board, Eidsvold Lutheran Church Council, and was a member of the Somers Lions Club and the Kalispell Eagles. He was also a lifetime member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and the Disabled American Veterans.
Fred was devoted to his family and shared his wisdom, strength and talents with his children, grandchildren and all his extended family. He loved bowling, horseshoes, playing cards, camping, fishing, hunting, baking bread and serving his famous sourdough pancakes. He was very proud that he was able to teach his children and grandchildren to play cribbage and was always ready for a game. The joys of his life were his 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. He cherished every conversation with them and the time they spent together.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John, Walter and Thomas; sisters, Monica, Lois, Geneva and Lucinda; and his infant son Michael.
He is survived by his wife Alyce of Somers; five children, Nancy and Terry Brosten of Kalispell; Frederick (Rick) Jr. and Mary Eastman of Puyallup, Wash.; Kathy and Mark Hinrichs of West Linn, Ore; Marceen and Steven Whitham of LaCanada, Calif.; and USAF Mst. Sgt. James and Nancy Jo Eastman of Medical Lake, Wash.; grandchildren, Jennifer, Margaret and Frederick III Eastman; Andrew, Megan and Dylan Hinrichs; Mathew and Stephanie Whitham; James and JoAlyce Eastman; great-grandson Malachi Eastman; and godson Scott Sauer. He is also survived by brothers, Herbert, Emmery and Marion Eastman; and sisters, Beatrice Halstrom, Adeline Garden and Patricia Hartle; and many nephews and nieces.
Services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. at Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers, with the Rev. Wayne Pris officiating. Burial services will be at 10 a.m. at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson Mortuary Chapel.
The family suggests memorials to Lakeside QRU, P.O. Box 911, Lakeside, MT 59922 or Eidsvold Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 100, Somers, MT 59932. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.