Ervin Fridgen

Funeral Service for Ervin Jack Fridgen, 84, of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. at the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Fr. Stanley Wieser officiating. Pallbearers will be 8 of Ervins Grandsons: Tony Hoffman, Paul Hoffman, Scott Schultz, Cody Schultz, Matt Bertelsen, Mark Bertelsen, Jesse Schultz & Jim Bertelsen. Honorary Pallbearers will be All of Ervins Friends and Neighbors . Interment will be in the Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 16, 2006 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Ranney Funeral Home in Wheaton, and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Ervin Joseph Fridgen was born on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922 in Dumont, Minnesota to Al and Emma (Doll) Fridgen. He attended grade school in Dumont and graduated from Wheaton High School in 1939. After graduation he moved to San Diego, California where he worked in an air craft factory until he entered the United States Army Air Corp. While in the Air Corp he received training in radar technology. With this knowledge he was part of a team that helped with the installation and activation of radar stations throughout the pacific. In 1945, while home on furlough, he met Liela Honzo at a local dance, whom he married on February 4, 1948. They lived in Wheaton where he was employed at the Ford Garage and eventually became part owner. Ervin enjoyed gardening, remodeling their home, walking, playing cards, listening to music and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Ave Maria Catholic Church, the American Legion and the VFW. Ervin passed away at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton on June 13, 2006 at the age of 84. Ervin is survived by his wife: Liela Fridgen of Wheaton, Nine children: Barbara (Joe) Bertelsen of St. Paul, Minnesota, Dan (Sharon) Fridgen of Benson, Minnesota, Julie (Kevin) Deal of Herman, Minnesota, Kathy (Kenny) Hoffman of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Jane (Kelly) Schultz of Wheaton, Mary (Tom) Peyton of Wheaton, Jim (Colette) Fridgen of Littleton, Colorado, Bill (Anne) Fridgen of Lakewood, Colorado, and Tom Fridgen of St. Paul, Minnesota, one brother: Rick (Anne) Fridgen of Norwell, Mass, 25 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, sister: Lois Warburton, infant son, and granddaughter Kimberly Schultz.

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