Duane Fretheim, (Willard Duane Fretheim) 81, of Stanley, ND, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at the Stanley Hospital in Stanley, ND. Springan Stevenson Funeral Home of Stanley is assisting the family.

Duane Fretheim (Willard Duane Fretheim) was born July 16, 1938 to Willard and Louisa Fretheim in Stanley, ND. He married Beverly Anderson on November 9, 1958 in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ross, ND, where he was a member.

Duane helped organize the Ross Fire Department, served on the boards for the Ross Farmer’s Elevator and Debing Township. He also served on the church council.

In the 1960’s he was the cement foreman for Peter Kewitt working the Minute Men missile sites. He worked on the oil rigs as well as driving a semi for the Ross Farmers Elevator delivering to Duluth elevators.

He and Bev bought the family homestead in 1970, moving there in 1974 becoming the third generation to live and farm the land. They received the Soil Conservation Award in 1991. He loved growing trees and caring for the yard and his flowers. His garden was grown so that he could give his produce away.

Duane enjoyed working with meat, making sausage and specialty meats such as head cheese and rolla pulsa. He shared his love and knowledge by teaching those that wanted to learn including his kids and grandkids. He liked to cook and bake from meats to pies to share friends and family.

Duane was always ready to help someone else but thought he never needed someone to help him – “I can do it myself”. Duane loved to tinker, fixing things whether it was a tractor or kitchen appliance. Most of the time he got it fixed. He would remodel things to fit his needs, like a hitch on a drill or making a portable smoker on a grill base with wheels. He taught his children how to work and figure things out – he was very proud of them.

His latest hobby was rock cutting. He would cut rocks in half to see what was inside or in slices to see what one could see in the slice. He also made pendants for necklaces.

His grandchildren were very important to him, seeing them as often as he could so that they knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Bev; children, Karla (Dudley) Homelvig, Kevin (Wendy) Fretheim and Kerry (Allison) Fretheim. His 6 grandchildren are Tyler and Staci Homelvig and Katie (Johan) Fretheim Basson, Forrest (Alyssa) Fretheim, Wyatt Fretheim and Seth Fretheim. His great grandchildren are Stella and Sam. He is also survived by brothers, Mike (Linda) Fretheim and Curt (Daphne) Fretheim.