Kenneth Eugene Fricke

Kenneth Eugene Fricke passed away on February 25, 2021, just one month after his 80th birthday. He battled COPD for years, and he and his oxygen machine traveled everywhere together. Life will not be the same without this dynamic husband, father, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, “Papa” and friend.

Ken was born in Pampa, Texas on January 13, 1941. He graduated from Irving High School in Irving, Texas and immediately joined the Navy. After attending Meteorology School, he was stationed in Lakehurst, NJ and then Oahu, Hawaii where he worked at the Pearl Harbor Weather Central.

While in Hawaii, he met his wife-to-be on the beach at Waikiki. It was love at first sight and Beverly Henrikson and Kenneth Fricke were married in Seattle on August 23, 1963, returning to Oahu to complete his tour. His next tour of duty was San Diego, where they lived till his discharge from being in the Navy 7 years.

Ken and Bev moved to Seattle where Ken attended the University of Washington, majoring in Business Administration. He went to school full time and worked full time for Boeing. After graduation he went to work for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, one of the “Big 8” accounting firms. He worked in industry for a few years, but he always wanted to have his own CPA firm. In 1974 he opened the doors of Ken Fricke & Associates in North Seattle and enjoyed 42 years in his practice. His clients were an important part of his life.

In 2012, he became President and CEO of the Doswell Foundation in Dallas, Texas, a non-profit organization founded by his aunt, Florence Doswell. He was very active in the Doswell Foundation and for years commuted often between Dallas and Granite Falls, WA.

For the past 24 years, Ken and Bev have lived in Granite Falls, Washington, where Ken enjoyed the peace and quiet of country life. He was happy on his tractor with acreage to mow. He had two major hobbies. He started reading when a young child, taking home piles of books from the library. As an adult he almost read a book a day – some books 2-3 times. When not reading, he was working on planning and building his model railroad, a replica of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Ken leaves behind his loving wife, Beverly Jean Henrikson Fricke, adoring daughter Susan Dorothy-Ann Fricke of Maui, Hawaii and a very special and loving extended family. He considered Sean Mix and Ali Tillman part of his family and their son, Garrett, called him Papa. He has left us all with wonderful memories.

A small family celebration of Ken Fricke will be held on a sunny day this summer.

Remembrances in Ken’s name can be made to your local Salvation Army.