Crane Operator Memorial

Lake Swank crane operator Fred Winston looks out over Kalispell on Thursday afternoon, January 12, as he works on the Surgical Services addition to the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Winston died of complications due to cancer on Wednesday, July 18, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Winston, 59, of Missoula, was a union crane operator through the Local 400. He became a crane operator in 1979 and had worked for Swank since 2000. According to Jeff Halsey, foreman for Swank Construction at the crane at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center expansion project, said that Winston had run every kind of crane they make. "He's run rough terrains, truck cranes, friction rigs and tower cranes (like the one being used at KRMC)." Halsey and the construction crew put up a banner which reads R.I.P. Freddy on Thursday, July 19, which according to Halsey will remain up until the crane comes down in mid-September. A celebration of life will be held at the Lolo Community Center on Friday, July 27, from 4 to 6 p.m.