Long time valley resident Fred Rollinger passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at the age of 100. Fred was born on April 4, 1923 on a farm east of Sunnyside, to Nicholas and Celia Rollinger.
In his youth, he walked almost a mile to school before buses and electricity became available. Fred graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1941 and later went to Metropolitan Business College in Seattle.
He joined the Army in 1942, serving in the 4th Amphibious Engineers Special Brigade and the 340th Harbor Craft Company as the 1st Mate on a tug boat while in Europe.
After returning from the Army, he farmed with his brothers James and Clarence in Sunnyside. Fred married Dorothy Johnson on October 8, 1947. They met at a grange hall dance where Dorothy’s mother took it upon herself to get the two acquainted. They were married 67 years.
He was involved with the church and community including the Parish finances, Parish Council and as a Charter member of the Lower Valley Catholic Credit Union. Fred enjoyed pinochle parties with friends and many family gatherings.
When the Sunnyside sugar beet plants closed, the three brothers dissolved their partnership at which time Fred purchased Sun Ray Orchards and moved the family to Benton City, WA in 1968. In 1972, they sold the orchard in Benton City and purchased Tate’s Grocery Store in Cowiche, WA, changing the name to Fred’s Food Center. After 25 years in the grocery business, they moved to Prescott Valley, AZ. While there, Fred helped start and operate a Knights of Columbus Goodwill Store and volunteered with other charities.
In January 2002, he and Dorothy moved back to Yakima to be closer to their family. They both enjoyed traveling. Orchard Park Retirement Center became their home in 2012. Dorothy passed on June 20, 2015.
Fred and Dorothy were blessed with nine children: Virginia Seifert (Bill,deceased) of Spokane, WA; Mona (Larry) Waisanen of Las Vegas, NV; Gary (Jewel) Rollinger of Mesquite, NV; Ken (Cindy) Rollinger of Yakima, WA; Barbara (Gerhard) Hoeger of Stein, Germany; Joanne (Jack)Carsten of Deer Park, WA; Theresa (Roger) Kilpatrick of Yakima, WA; Tom (Debbie) Rollinger of Cape Coral, FL; and Beverly (Kerry) Kirkevold of Naches, WA; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary following at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W Yakima Ave. in Yakima. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, August 11, 2023 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5315 Tieton Dr., Yakima. Burial will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1405 S 24th Ave, Yakima. Keith & Keith Funeral Home in entrusted with the arrangements. To share a memory of Fred, visit www.keithandkeith.com
