Stanley Fretheim, 91

Oct. 15, 1929 —

Dec. 15, 2020

 

RIDGEWAY - Stanley Monson Fretheim, age 91, of Ridgeway, Iowa, died on Tuesday morning, Dec. 15, 2020 in his home. 

Private family services with military honors will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway. Burial will take place at Madison Lutheran Church Cemetery. Lindstrom Funeral Home is assisting the family. 

Stanley was born on Oct. 15, 1929, the fourth of 10 children to Joel and Emma (Monson) Fretheim. He was born and raised on the family farm near Ridgeway. 

Stanley married Delores (Anderson-Qualley) on Feb. 15, 1954 in Ridgeway. They were married for 66 years. Together, they raised five children and farmed in Ridgeway township for many years. 

Stanley served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. After returning from the service, he continued running the family farm, later purchasing his own family dairy farm. He ended his working career at Carlson Construction. 

Friends and family would describe Stanley as having a kind heart, gentle soul and always having the ability to “hold his own.” He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and always loved telling a good story. He enjoyed watching his favorite TV shows including NASCAR racing, football, The Lawrence Welk Show, westerns and a heated court case on Judge Judy. He loved his John Deere and mowing the lawn whenever he could. 

His love for music started early in life and would continue to grow throughout the years. Johnny Cash and Jimmy Jenson the Swingin’ Swede were some of his favorites. There was never a trip to Cresco that didn’t involve bringing home two boxes of Nestles ice cream drumsticks. 

Stanley lived to the ripe old age of 91, still driving, chewing his Copenhagen and enjoying a cold tap of beer at his favorite local bar, The Hideaway. 

He is survived by his wife, Delores; children, Mark (Marie) Anderson of Oronoco, Minn., Julie Fretheim of Eagan, Minn., Michael (Darla) Fretheim of Burnsville, Minn. and Lori (Gary) Kriener of Cresco, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Amalia (Doug Banyai) Anderson of Laurium, Mich., Christa (Jason Ko) Anderson of Vallejo, Calif., Elynn (Tyler) Horn of Rochester, Minn., Jesse (Emily) Scheer of Shellsburg, Iowa, Cody (Amy)  Scheer of Independence, Iowa, Emma and Erin Fretheim of Burnsville, Minn., Mitchell (Savana) Kriener of Cresco and Olivia (Beau Freeborn) Kriener of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren, Linzie Sebastian and Ben Swift, Ingrid and Lars Anderson Ko, Ezra, Rowan and Maddison Scheer and Elleana Kriener; two brothers, Emory (Elaine) and Joel Fretheim; and four sisters, Hazel Stortz, Jane Pape, Doris Schutz and Shirley (Lee) Vangsness.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Emma; his three brothers, Jules and Lyle Fretheim, and Rev. Ardel Aleson; sister, Ruth Nesset; daughter, Betsy Scheer; son, Jeffrey Fretheim; and grandchild Melinda Fretheim.