Fred Heim, 99
Heaven welcomed Fred Heim, a kind and humble man on March 3, 2020. He was greeted with open arms at the gates of Heaven by his dance partner of 63 years, Dorothy June (Jo) Fox Heim. Fred lived a remarkable American life. In the span of his lifetime, he saw the age of horsepower change into space age and to the digital age.
Fred Ulric Heim passed away at the age of 99 and three months. He was born in Beaumont, Texas on Nov. 25, 1920, the fourth son of Oscar John and Fannie Lee (Beard) Heim. In 1921 the family moved back to Montana where Fred grew up on farms near Fort Benton and Havre. The family moved to the Flathead Valley in 1934, where Fred graduated from Bigfork High in 1937. He enrolled at Northern Montana College in Havre in the fall of 1940 and completed his course the spring of 1941. That fall he took a civil service exam and was appointed to the clerk’s job in a soil conservation district in Woods, Oregon. After Pearl Harbor he returned to the Flathead and began his career in the timber industry. The fall of 1942 he met the love of his life Jo Fox at a dance in the old Echo School north of Bigfork. After a lengthy courtship and dancing across the valley, they married on June 15, 1944. In 1947 Fred and his brother George leased and operated the old Gatiss feed mill at Creston for four years. On Sept. 12, 1947 Jo blessed Fred and their marriage with the birth of their only child Randy. She continued to bless Fred and Randy with constant care and love the rest of her life. Fred had many accomplishments in his life but one very big one was his part in creation of Creston Volunteer Fire Department where he served as chief for 14 years. Fred worked as a bookkeeper for Broeder Brothers for 20 years. He then went to work for Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. doing payrolls and keeping personnel records as well as hiring replacements in the crew as needed. In today’s world that would be called the head of HR. He held this position until his retirement in 1983. After retirement Fred and Jo spent many years traveling the country in their RV.
After Jo passed away in 2005 his family thought he would die of loneliness but he persevered and found a life by himself. He was active in Moose Lodge and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Being the senior king of the Whitefish Winter Carnival was a highlight of his later years. He also attended the Epworth Methodist Church and had breakfast every Sunday with his buddy Joe Eslick.
In 2014 Fred reluctantly moved to Spokane to be near Randy and Kathie. He found a new community at Fairwinds Retirement Home and was very popular with the residents. Being near family not only was a blessing for Fred but also for Randy and Kathie. He had many bouts of health issues that would have taken most people but like a cat with nine lives he continued on. Finally, old age took his life. One of his favorite sayings at Fairwinds when someone died was “He cashed in his chips.”
Having two wonderful grandsons, Rory and Ryan Heim was a huge part of Jo and Fred’s life. Later he was blessed with two great-granddaughters Kelli and Gwyneth Heim plus a multitude of grand animals. Fred loved a beautiful yard and people came from far away to see his lovely flowers. Most people remember Fred for his love of the timber industry and his many editorials to the editor of the Daily Inter Lake.
Being 99 years old, he outlived all his siblings and friends.
Fred leaves behind his son Randy and his wife Kathie (aka laundry person), his two grandsons Rory and Ryan and their wives’ Jennifer and Shelly and the two little lights of his life, great-granddaughters Kelli and Gwyneth. He also leaves behind a multitude of loving nieces and nephews.
We will miss you dad but so delighted that you are having a wonderful reunion with your loving wife Jo, all your siblings and your parents. Your laughter, love and smile will remain in our hearts forever.
A service honoring his life will be held when the grass is green in the Flathead Valley. In lieu of flowers hug your loved one, pet your animal and pull the lever for a republican.