Fred Byron Barker, 91

Fred Byron Barker passed away peacefully Oct. 9, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, at the age of 91. He was proud of his age, and especially of living to reach 90. Fred was born Nov. 11, 1918, in Willard, Utah, to Fredrick C. and Rosamond Jensen Barker. He spent his younger years in Willard and then, in 1923, his father moved the family to St. Ignatius. The trip took two weeks and they traveled by covered wagon. Fred received his schooling there and helped his father run the family farm. In September 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Jefferson Barracks, Mo., when on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was then sent to Payne Field, Everett, Wash. There they prepared P-39s to be shipped to Russia. He was shipped to New Orleans Air Force Base but they had no planes. He then went to New York and shipped out on the Queen Elizabeth. He was among the first Americans to go to England. His unit landed in Glasgow, Scotland. England gave the United States a large airfield in Shusman Air Force base with English Spitfire planes (There were still no American planes). At this time, the night raids by the Germans were in full force. When the U.S. troops finally got their planes, Fred s unit was moved to an airfield in Bovington. He spent much of his war years as a crew chief for a P-51 Mustang Squadron in the 8th Air Force. Fred told stories of countless nights he spent repainting the planes to try and keep one step ahead of the Germans. The first colonel he crewed under was killed by enemy fire. Fred went on to be the crew chief for the well-known Lt. Gen. William E. Kepner. In October of 1945, he returned home to Montana, where his father had bought a farm in the Flathead Valley after selling the home place in St. Ignatius. Fred helped his father clear the farm ground and then bought his own place close by. His place was a stump ground, located in the Swan River area northeast of Bigfork. With the help of his father and brother, George, they spent nearly 14 years clearing his land. Clearing the land was a huge undertaking. The land was full of tamarack stumps that required the use of blasting powder to remove them. Because tamarack roots do not rot, there were always lots of sticks to pick every spring year after year. Fred left areas of the farm with the original trees for the protection of the deer and wildlife. He enjoyed watching the mothers and their babies, and was very protective of them. He also had a huge herd of wild turkeys that he loved. He fed hay and grain to them during the winter months. In the early 1950s, he added hogs to his farming. The hog manure was good fertilizer for the land. He raised excellent hogs and regularly topped the market. The Spokane auctioneer would often stop the bidding and say, Now these are Montana hogs. Fred loved his animals and his many dogs. He loved to farm. He would say he always tried to make his farm better each year. Fred believed in keeping his land clean. Weeds were his enemy and he spent many hours diligently rogueing his fields for wild oats, spraying the drain ditches and the edges of his fields. In 1961, he married Kathleen Burtsfield in the Cardston Temple. To that union, there were four children born. The family worked side-by-side for many years and Fred passed on his hard work ethics to his children. He believed hard work built character. Consequently, his kids turned out to be characters who loved to tease him about his farmer humor jokes. He took their teasing in stride for he was truly a farmer out standing in his field. Those who knew him will miss his grizzly bear- and wild poacher- chasing stories. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his daughter, Julia Barker, of Salt Lake City; son, Byron, and his wife, Lonni, and children, Holland, Greer, Reese and Kean, of Eagle, Idaho; son, Craig, and his wife, Melissa, and children, Zach, Kyle and Brandon, also of Eagle; and daughter, Korrine Howard, and children, Addison and Cessaley, of Sandy, Utah. Also surviving are his sister, Marie Cozzetto, of Spokane; and his brother, George, and his wife, Marion, of Canmore, Alberta. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosamond Caroline, Barbara, Julia and Rosa; and brothers, Clark, Jack, Stanley and Alan. The family would like to thank those close friends and neighbors who provided care, concern and acts of kindness to him over the years. They would especially like to express their deepest gratitude to Fred s longtime friend and neighbor, Alvin Gordon. Fred was able to stay in his home and enjoy the beauty of his farm up until just days before his passing due to Alvin s daily care. They appreciate the love and service he extended to Fred. The family requests donations be made to your favorite charity. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at Johnson-Gloschat Mortuary. Johnson - Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Fred s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Fred s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.