Stuart Irvin Fryberger

Stuart Irvin Fryberger, 79, of Charlo, MT, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at Mountain View Care Center in Ronan. Stuart was born on November 18, 1929 in Polson, MT, a son of the late George and Elizabeth Chamberlin Fryberger. He grew up in Charlo where he attended and graduated from the Charlo Schools in 1947. He worked on the family farm as a young man and also in the grain fields of Washington during harvest time. Stuart later went on to work for several road construction companies. He married Nancy Turnbull on December 29, 1956 in the Charlo Methodist Church. They lived in Laurel until the construction outfit moved to Charlo to rebuild the Charlo road. When the road crew moved on they stayed to take over the family farm. He also bought a farm west of Charlo where he farmed for 14 years. Besides raising sugarbeets, cattle, and other crops, he did custom farming and had a cattle hauling business. After selling the farm, he moved to Fryberger land outside of Charlo. He then worked for the Lake County Road Department on the crusher crew. He also became a director for Lake County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company until health problems forced him to step down. He then became a resident of Mountain View Care Center in Ronan. He was an active member of the Charlo Lions Club for a number of years helping with the annual 4th of July barbeque and fireworks and various other civic projects. Stuart was also a member of the Charlo Fire Department and the Wilson's Service bowling team for a number of years. Stuart had many interests including riding horses and snowmobiles and later in his retirement, he enjoyed skiing and riding his bicycle. Exercise was his game. But above all, he will be remembered as the life of the party and the master of jokes. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his in-laws Florence and Ed Turnbull, a nephew, Danny Phillip Fryberger and brothers-in-law, Robert Burns and Don Walsh. Survivors include his loving wife, Nancy of Charlo, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage: two daughters, Janis (Rick) Rafter of Ward Cove, Alaska and Connie (Saichi) Oba of Fairbanks, Alaska: one son, Greg Fryberger of Charlo: three sisters, ZoeAnn (Ed) Luthy of Kinsale, VA, Marjorie Burns of Cathlamet, WA, and Mary (Gene) Smith of Tigard, OR: three brothers, Ralph (Gladys) Fryberger of Hemet, CA, Dan (Norma) Fryberger of Buckley, WA, and Joe (LaDonna) Fryberger, of Charlo: sisters in-law Alice Walsh of Torrance, Ca. and Betty (Fran) Mocabee- of Missoula and Ronan six grandchildren, Jeri, Kiel, and Lindsey Rafter and Elli, Kekuewa, and Lupua Oba: an uncle, Paul Chamberlin, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009, 2:00 PM, at Mission Valley United Methodist Church, St. Ignatius with Rev. Karen McRae officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stuart's memory to either the Charlo Senior Center, PO Box 1, Charlo, MT 59824, or to the Charlo Lions Club, or the Charlo Fire Dept. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. Grogan Funeral Home, Polson is assisting the family.
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