J. Lynn Fredrickson

J. Lynn Fredrickson died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. He died surrounded by his family. He is survived by his beloved and loving wife, Luella, his sons, Thomas and Timothy, his daughters, Carol and Lynne Marie and his nephew, Michael Chugg.

He was born in Declo, Idaho, March 8, 1925, to John Dory Fredrickson and Sabina Thorne. He was the second of nine children. He began working for a farmer by the time he was 13 years old, picking potatoes, haying and wheat harvesting. As an older boy he drove a school bus as most men had gone to war. During high school he was head of the ROTC.

After high school he and his cousin Cal Gibson joined the Navy so they could serve together. They were separated after boot camp, coming together several months later on an island in the Pacific. He was on the ship, Arctic, during the occupation of Japan. He had the opportunity to see Japan and Hawaii.

After the war, he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation where his back was broken when a blade fell on it. This caused him pain through most of his life.

He next worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Jackson Hole, Wyo. His boss was married to the head of the school teachers in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and through her he met the new school teacher, Luella Lewis. They were married Nov. 3, 1951, in Seattle. Their twin sons, Tim and Tom were born in October of the following year. They moved to Moses Lake after the birth of their daughter Carol and their daughter Lynne Marie was born in Moses Lake.

He worked hard leveling land, being a part of making the Columbia Basin the agricultural giant that it is.

Lynn was a decent, hardworking man who was dedicated to his family. He attended every school event, Girl Scouts, umpired Little League, went on Boy Scout campouts, and drove horses all over the Basin for 4-H.

In his retirement years he learned to use the computer, got on the Internet, read voraciously, used a cellphone and as always fed the birds on his lake home. This was a man who did the very best he could, was a proud family man and was deeply loved by his family including son-in-law, Ken Best and Paula and Fred. He is well regarded and will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make a donation to the American Legion.

You may sign the guest book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.