Richard “Dick” E. Frazer, 90, of Stevensville, passed away after a full life on February 23, 2014.
Richard was born in June of 1923 in Klein, Montana to George and Hazel Frazer. Richard enlisted in the Marines during World War II out of high school at the age of 17 with the consent of his parents. Richard’s troop transport was torpedoed and he was feared lost at sea. After his rescue he returned home and spent most of his life in Stevensville. He was the oldest living member of post 41. He was the caregiver for his parents until they passed away.
Dick was part of the Montana Smoke Jumpers. He worked and lived in Stevensville and loved to travel. He went on a number of trips around the US and worked in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Always calling Montana home he loved to hunt and fish in his younger days. Dick loved to see places and put over a million miles on his cars driving around the US. A slow and cautious driver, Dick was responsible for many a backup on Hwy 93 between Polson and Missoula!
Dick was very close to his sister Gladys as well as his brothers George and Wesley. He spent a lot of time at his sister’s house in Missoula and his brother’s house in Polson.
Dick was always working on one thing or another, whether it was a car, his cabin or his parents’ house. He built his cabin on Flathead Lake with the help of his brothers George and Wes plus help from all the other members of the family. Growing up during the Depression, Dick learned to use everything and nothing went to waste. Today we call it a “Frazer fix” anytime we dig into a project at his cabin only to find it has been repaired with parts from a tin can or who knows what.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents George and Hazel Frazer, brothers George Frazer and John Wesley Frazer, and sister Gladys MacKey. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. He will be missed along with his smile that you could only get out of him once in awhile.
A memorial service will be held at Whitesitt Funeral Home, 314 Church St, Stevensville MT 59870 on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Bitterroot Humane Association, PO Box 57, Hamilton MT 59840. If you prefer to give by phone, please call 406-363-5311.