Fred Ernest McBride

March 6, 1935. He died in Culpeper, Va., on February 9, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with

cancer (lymphoma). He was a man who loved his family, friends, and community – and always

Montana.

He grew up in Anaconda, Mont., and joined the Air Force in 1954 serving as a radio specialist

until 1958. He married Cecelia Clark in Great Falls, Mont., in 1957. His eldest daughter was

born in 1958, and the young family moved to Missoula, Mont., where he enrolled at the

University of Montana graduating in 1962 with a degree in Forestry Management. Another

daughter and a son were born while he was a student. Later that year he began his career with

the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown, Mont., becoming

the first fire control officer for BLM in Montana.

Fred worked in fire management with BLM for over 20 years. In 1968 he took a position at the

newly-established Boise Interagency Fire Center (BIFC) in Idaho, now the National Interagency

Fire Center. During his time at BIFC, Fred was instrumental in developing a lightning detection

system that would allow early identification of fire-causing lightning strikes and became known

for other innovative modernizations in fire management. As an experienced wildland firefighter,

he also led many teams of firefighters throughout the Western states and Alaska in protecting

federal land. Later in his career, he served two terms at BLM headquarters in Washington,

D.C., the second hitch as Director of Aviation and Fire Management, and in BLM management

in Nevada and Alaska.

When Fred was not engaged with his BLM work, he was busy raising five children and teaching

them how to be responsible, hard working people. He always loved working with his hands

crafting furniture, painting on canvas, and repairing and rebuilding many vehicles. In his later

years, Fred was a prolific writer of short stories and poetry, and especially enjoyed family

genealogy tracing his heritage back to Europe almost 2300 years ago.

Fred married Joan Dudgeon in 1984. After his retirement from BLM, they lived 18 years in

Western Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. There Fred put his talent as a craftsman to work with his

business partner and long-time friend Bill Lyon in a small handyman business. Fred added an

addition to his own home and spent many years as a community volunteer with Joan in the

Stevensville Civic Club and served as a leader on the Ravalli County, Mont., land use planning

board for many years.

Fred and Joan moved to Virginia in 2004 to be near their children and grandchildren. Initially

they lived on the Northern Neck where he served as president of the neighborhood HOA. Fred

also took advantage of the proximity to the Corrotoman and Rappahannock rivers and spent

many happy days fishing from his small boat.

In 2013 Fred and Joan moved to Culpeper where Fred continued his lifelong enjoyment of

tinkering with vehicles and spending time with family and friends as much as possible.

Fred was predeceased by his parents and prematurely-born daughter Maureen Kathleen. He is

survived by his beloved wife Joan, his sister Donna Lee Klemann of Anaconda, Mont., and his

children Shon McBride Beury (Robert), Timothy McBride (Catherine), Shannon McBride White

(Mike), Daniel McBride (Jamie) and Michael McBride (Laurie). Fred was devoted to his

grandchildren and great-grandchildren Anne Beury Belch (Adam), Caroline Beury, Sean

McBride, Troy McBride (Caitlin), Paul McBride, Erin White Gottlieb (Kevin), Katherine White,

Matthew McBride (Jessica), Megan McBride, Michael McBride, Jr., (Mack), Ryan McBride,

Charlotte Belch and Clark Belch.

Fred was a member of the Baha’i Faith serving in several capacities over his 40- year affiliation.

A graveside service will be held at the Culpeper National Cemetery on February 14 with

attendees gathering at 11:45 a.m. at the park’s semi-circle parking area off the E. Chandler St.

entrance to the cemetery.

If desired, memorials may be made in honor of Fred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

or the American Cancer Society.