Carter Lee Fritz, 68

Carter Lee Fritz passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at the age of 68. He was born on Sept. 9, 1942, in Kalispell, to Earl and Lotella (Teddy) Fritz. He graduated from Flathead County High School and attended Montana State University in Bozeman. Carter served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves. He married Cheryl de Yong in June 1968. As a lifelong dairy farmer, he received recognition for raising Rainbow, a 3-year-old cow that made the top 10 percent in milk production in the nation; and raising Valley High, a reserve champion in the Black and White 5-year-old division at the state show in Bozeman. Carter won the Jaycee Young Farmer of the Year, and served on several state dairy committees. In his later years, he diversified his farm to include camelina, canola and field corn. With the field corn, Carter envisioned the Corn Maze, which is now an annual event run by his son, Chris, on the original Fritz Farm. When Carter was in high school, he received the State Farmer degree, Dairy Proficiency award and Farm Mechanics award in FFA. His dedication to youth, agriculture and leadership led him to serve as an FFA Advisory Committee member from the beginning of its creation and 47 years as a 4-H leader. Carter s greatest joys were his family and farming. He and Cheryl were married 42 years and he loved his family of four sons and a daughter. He spent countless hours with his eight grandchildren. Carter enjoyed hiking in Glacier National Park and photographing the beauty that surrounded him. Carter is survived by his wife; son Kevin and Shilo, son Kirk and Ivanna, son Jeremy and Lindsay, son Chris and Heidi, all of Kalispell; daughter, Suzanne (Willis) and Jason of Savannah, Ga.; two brothers; and eight grandchildren, Anika, Aidan, Abby, Kaylee, Miley, Ian, Lance and Audrianna. Carter was preceded in death by his parents. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell, with a reception following the service. Memorials are suggested to local 4-H programs or the FFA program.