William F. “Willie” Friedt, 89, Dickinson, formerly of Mott, died Sunday, November 15, 2020 with family by his side at St. Benedict Living Community, Dickinson. Willie’s Private Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Saturday, November 28, 2020 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Richardton with Fr. Thomas Wordekemper, OSB as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Stephen’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ladbury Funeral Service. A private rosary will be held at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Deacon Bob Zent presiding.
William F. Friedt was born April 21, 1931 to Anton B. and Ottilia (Loran) Friedt on the family farm. Willie grew up 15 miles north of Mott milking cows, raising hogs, chickens and grain farming. He attended Colgrove Country School in Campbell Township, Hettinger County. After graduating from eighth grade he remained on the farm working side by side with his dad to continue his passion of farming and ranching.
Willie met Luella Koenig, telling family it was love at first site. While dating they enjoyed bowling, roller skating, and dances at the Halfway and Hardmayer Hall. One winter when the roads were blocked Willie rode on horseback to visit Luella. There were no TV’s at the time so when they gathered with friends there was card playing, singing, and Willie played the guitar. Willie and Luella were married June 10, 1953 at St. Stephen Catholic Church. The Koenig family initiated him by teaching him “Gloverous”, a card game with lots of pounding! After getting married, they lived with Willie’s parents for a short time and then moved to the Koenig farm. Willie and Luella continued to farm and ranch both family farms until retirement in 1995. Willie shared his passion for farming with both his sons, Dale and Gary as they joined him operating the family farm. The Friedt Family was awarded the Slope-Hettinger Soil Conservation Award in 1992.
Willie enjoyed snowmobile trips with friends and family to South Dakota, trapping, hunting, fishing, collecting model cars, and was an avid reader. He enjoyed neighborhood Pinochle and Pitch games. Willie and Luella spent many nights dancing to one of their favorite bands, “The Shadows”. Willie served two three-year terms on the Mott Equity board of directors, was a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church; serving on the church board, singing in the choir, and was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, at one time serving as president. When work was needed at the church he was always ready to help.
Willie and Luella moved to Dickinson in 1995 yet continued to “commute” to help at the farm. Willie worked hard all his life. When he suffered a stroke on March 1, 2000, he told his told his doctor his hobby was work! Willie continued to live at home for 16 years until entering the Benedictine Living Community in July 2016. He continued to always be interested in what was going on at the farm, with the cows, the harvest, planting, the grandchildren, etc. Trips back out to the farm always brought him joy. When able, he attended school events of the grandchildren. His greatest interest in recent years was the antics of his great-grandchildren. Family gatherings will not be the same without Willie sneaking treats to the family pets.
Willie will be greatly missed by wife, Luella, Dickinson; his sons, Dale (Terryl), Mott, Gary (Kirsten), rural Mott. Wille was blessed with four grandchildren, Nicholas Friedt, Oakes, Megan (Dusty) Dukart, Richardton, Lindsey (Drew) Courtney, Oakes, Aaron (Tatian) Friedt, Mott; and 11 great-grandchildren, Isabelle, Aliyah, Easton Friedt, Hudson, Hoyt, Hayes, Holden, Heston Dukart, Avery, Ella, and Claire Courtney; brothers, Henry, Mesa Ariz. and Darrel, Turnwater, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anton B. and Ottilia Friedt; brother, Albert, sisters-in-law, Sarah, Ina, and Bertha; and nephews, David and Raymond Friedt.
