Frederick Lloyd Posey, 88

Frederick Lloyd Posey was born on Sept. 2, 1919; the fourth child to James Posey and Agnes Belle Roberts in Fargo, N.D. At age 3 Fred and his family moved to Idaho where he grew up and went to school. While in high school, he participated in all sports and was the editor of the school paper during his junior and senior years. He also acted in several school plays. Fred graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1938.

In 1939, he enrolled in the University of Idaho. While there he was named to the Pershing Rifles in the R.O.T.C. He was also a member of the Idaho boxing squad that won the U.S. championship in 1940.

In the fall of 1940, he and his brother, Robert, were part of a group of young men who organized Battery "B" of the 148 F.A. which was sent overseas to reinforce General MacArthur in November 1940. They left Hawaii for Manila one week before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. They were in war from then on.

Fred's war record includes seven beachhead landings in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and three Philippine Islands. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.

In 1945, Fred returned home after being honorably discharged and moved to Whitefish where he met, fell in love with, and married Frances LeBlanc in 1946. They had two lovely children, Cheryl Anne and F. Bruce. Their marriage had lasted 61 years at the time of Fred's death.

In 1946, Fred entered the University of Montana. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in education in 1949. He later went back to the U of M where he received a master's degree in counseling and guidance, and still later to earn his degree in administration.

Fred taught school in Cut Bank, Darby, Livingston, and Kalispell. In 1959, he was promoted to the principalship of the Charles Russell and Edgerton schools in Kalispell, a position he held until he retired in 1981, 22 years later.

After retirement, he and Frances took many interesting tours that took them to Alaska, Hawaii, Disneyland, Disneyworld, and almost every state in the U.S. They also traveled to England, Scotland, Wales, the Bahamas, and their favorite trip, the Panama Canal.

A bout with cancer caused Fred and Frances to move to Billings in 1997. Fred recovered from cancer and 11 years later, on Feb. 10, 2008, he died from heart problems at the age of 88.

During his lifetime Fred was an active member in Lions for 45 years. He also enjoyed singing for many years in the Flathead Valley Aires Chorus. He was also a longtime member of the Presbyterian church of Kalispell, where he held the positions of deacon and elder. He loved his children and spent many happy hours with them in Scouts and going fishing and hunting.

Fred is survived by his wife, Frances; two children, Cheryl Anne Johnson (Dennis) of Fort Collins, Colo., and F. Bruce Posey (Janice) of Billings; and his sister, Agnes Galland, of Billings. They also have three grandchildren, Tyler Johnson of Crested Butte, Colo., Jael Johnson of Fort Collins, and Caleb Posey of Billings.

Fred was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Posey (Helen) of Eugene, Ore., and his sister, Helen Leopold, of Kennewick, Wash.

Fred's greatest aim in life was to make other people happy.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Friday at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice or the Lion's Club.