Clyde Harald Fredrickson Jr.

CLYDE HARALD FREDRICKSON JR, born April 20,1932 to Dr. Clyde Harald Fredrickson and Margaret Elizabeth (Beth) Bicket, in Great Falls Montana. Clyde moved to Missoula, Montana when he was five years old and was joined by two more siblings, Robert (Bob) and Janet (Jan). In January 1942, Dr. Fredrickson (Colonel) was activated with the US Army as a surgeon. At first the family thought Dr. Fredrickson would be stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington so the home in Missoula was rented and the family relocated to Fort Lewis in temporary quarters while looking for a house. Clyde loved to tell the story of how he taught young Jan to walk, holding her hand and walking up and down the sidewalk at Fort Lewis.

They soon learned that Dr. Fredrickson was not going to be in Washington, so Beth and the kids moved back to Missoula and Dr. Fredrickson went to Australia working in the Field Hospital.

Clyde enjoyed riding his bike around, shooting his twenty-two rifle and working on mechanical things. He was always an entrepreneur. Clyde told of one of his business ventures. He would get up early, go to the newspaper office (The Missoulian) and buy a stack of papers. He would take them to the train station and sell them to the travelers arriving at Missoula or passing through to other destinations. One morning when a teen, he had bought his papers and arrived at the station

early. He was having coffee and reading the paper (Clyde loved to read his newspaper) and found an ad that 4 cars had been repossessed out on the reservation and the local dealership was selling them for $100 each – first come first pick. Clyde quickly sold his papers and was at the dealership when it opened. He bought one of the cars, the only one that ran – a 1935 Dodge. It was in such a rough shape that he had to sit on a 5-gallon bucket to drive it home.

While Dr. Fredrickson had hoped his namesake would follow in his shoes, going to medical school, and his mother loved the look of her roses and the outside of her home, Clyde was only interested in mechanics and rebuilding his car. He talked about his parents and neighbors asking him to hide his car in the back alley if they were having guests.

Clyde was exposed to Aviation early, riding his bike to the old Missoula airport. Everyone at the airport knew him. He cleaned planes and helped around everywhere he could. When Dr. Fredrickson decided to learn to fly, he was surprised how well-known Clyde was at the airport and that Clyde was already taking Flying lessons. After graduating from Missoula County High School, in 1950, he worked at a car dealership as a mechanic.

Clyde joined the Air Force on 27 July 1951, going to Texas for basic training. He said the Army recruits were in air-conditioned barracks and Air Force recruits were in tents. He joined to be a mechanic, hopefully an aircraft mechanic. At the end of basic training, he was given orders to attend training to become a teletype operator. Anyone who knew Clyde can hear him tell the story saying, “No Way, No How, my dad’s a Colonel.” He refused to sign the orders, and the guy said I will give you the mechanic’s test and if you can pass, you can be a mechanic. He passed with no problem – was never given any training and spent his enlistment in the motor pool in Korea, Japan, and Edwards Airforce Base in California. Jan recalls Christmas in 1951 when she was about 11 years old, while Clyde was in the Air Force. “He showed up at home to everyone’s great surprise. It was an exciting Christmas.”

While stationed in California he met and married Trelma Laura Miller on June 19, 1954. Kathryn L. Fredrickson was born in 1955. After Clyde was discharged from the Air Force, the small family relocated to Missoula, Montana. Clyde H. Fredrickson III was born in 1956. The couple later divorced.

In 1959 Clyde married Sarah Ann Hickey. Kenneth D. Fredrickson was born in 1960, and Carol L. Fredrickson was born in 1962.Through the early 60s the family lived in Missoula and Clyde owned and operated mechanic’s shops and a Mobile Service Station. Clyde maintained his dream of aviation, flying and owning a Stinson Voyager. Selling his businesses he focused on aviation, attending Northrop Institute of Technology in Van Nuys, California, getting the additional airman licenses he would need to make aviation a career and building flight time. The family lived in Van Nuys, San Jose and Santa Clara, California while Clyde prepared himself for his career in aviation. Clyde owned other airplanes in this time period including a 260 Comanche. Meanwhile, his former Wife, Trelma had remarried and had two children, Monty in 1959 and Leanora (Lenny) in 1961, subsequently divorcing. When Clyde would come to get Clyde and Kay for various visits, he would also include Monty and Leanora – who became part of Clyde’s family. In 1970 Clyde returned to Missoula working for Missoula Skyflight as a Flight Instructor. In 1971 he bought Hamilton Aviation, a fixed base operation in Hamilton Montana. Getting his business started he slept on a couch in his private office. Clyde 3, Ken and Carol joined him rotationally for the adventure in Hamilton, taking turns sleeping on cots in the Parts room and couch in the office.

In 1973 Clyde sold Hamilton Aviation, and in this time period He and Sarah divorced. He stayed in Hamilton buying and selling airplanes. On March 17, 1975, Clyde Married Ernestine (Ernie) J Hummel. Ernie had three children that joined Clyde’s family, David, Kim and Mark. In 1976 Clyde bought the FBO in Polson, Montana. He operated that business until about 1981 when he relocated to Texas. Clyde’s final business in Texas was Multi-Engine Training in the Dallas area. Clyde loved to fly! Clyde was a great storyteller and loved to laugh.

Clyde finished his earthly life on August 10, 2024, in El Paso, Texas. During his final hours Clyde 3 and Carol were at his side. Clyde was preceded in death by Ernie, His brother, Bob, who lived with Clyde and Ernie the final years of his life, his parents, Dr. Fredrickson and Beth, his grandson, Clyde IV and his grandparents. He is survived by his sister Jan Grant (Missoula), children Kathryn Marx (Robert), Clyde III (Cindy), Kenneth (Sally), Carol Garcia (Tony), Monty Houghton (Kim), Leanora – Lenny Aube (John), David Hummel (Rebecca), Kim Barnes (Greg), Mark Hummel (Lilly). 27 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Clyde and Ernie will be interned together at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Fort Bliss, Texas.