Joe Frederick, 94, Richardton, died Monday, August 25, 2014 at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. Joe’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, August 29, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Richardton, with Abbot Brian Wangler, OSB as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., with the family present from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to greet friends, at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Visitation will continue at the church from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a rosary & vigil at 8 p.m., and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the church.
Joe Frederick, son of Alois and Theresa (Tracey) Frederick was born March 1, 1920 on the family homestead north of Richardton. He attended grade school Geraminum #1, near the farm. Due to the blindness of his father he began farming the family homestead at an early age and did so up to 10 days before his death.
On February 23, 1943, he married Beatrice Fettig at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richardton. Following their marriage they lived on a small farm near the Alois Frederick homestead and in 1945 moved to the homestead to raise chickens, turkeys, ducks and milk cows. In 1944 the turkey crop was so productive that the proceeds resulted in the purchase of a new C-Minneapolis three bottom tractor. In 1949 they purchased the Palace Bar in Richardton and renamed it “Frederick’s Bar” which Beatrice managed while he pursued his farming along with his lifelong love of music. He played his first wedding engagement at the age of 12, north of Taylor and played with “the Prairie Larkers” that broadcast on the radio out of Minot from 1937-1939. He began playing accordion in his dance band the “White Jackets” which he started in 1941. The band traveled extensively on the road for 21 years and played weekend dance jobs for many years thereafter. The “White Jackets” played a church fair in Strasburg while Lawrence Welk was back in North Dakota and the band had the honor of having Mr. Welk sit in and play with them. They were frequently heard on the Minot and Dickinson radio stations as Sunday afternoon entertainment. In 1960 they moved into their new home, selling the bar and he was blessed with his pride enjoy, the birth of his daughter next to becoming a grandfather at the age of 84.
Joe was a member of several civic organizations including the Lions and the Elks. He was a founding member of the Dickinson Elks “Sodbuster” band in which he played the base drum along with accordion in the combo on occasion. He drove school bus for the Richardton School District from its’ inception in 1960 for the next 22 years. He was also a very faith filled man and devoted member of St. Mary’s Parish, serving as an usher, fund raising and attended daily mass often doing the rosary and serving mass on the same day.
Joe is survived by his daughter Jolene and son-in-law Larry Rohde and grandson Lear Joel of Bismarck; a special son and daughter, Patrick Broaddus, Coco, Fla., and Joan O’Shea, Tacoma, Wash.; and one sister, Frances Haag of Dickinson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice on March 15, 1997; parents; brothers, John and Victor; and sister, Katie Hauck.
Joe was a very compassionate and caring man and an awesome husband, father and grandfather and will be so greatly missed.
