Fred Salvatore Stricker Jr.

Fred Salvatore Stricker, 87, passed away of heart failure at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, with family by his side on Tuesday, December 28^th. A funeral service will be held at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Dilworth at 2pm, Monday, January 3^rd. The family requests that guests wear masks while in attendance. A celebration of life with a spaghetti dinner and interment will occur at a later date in 2022.

Fred was born on February 28^th, 1934, and lived his entire life in Dilworth, MN. He attended and graduated from Dilworth Public Schools. Fred followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a lifelong career with the Northern Pacific/BNSF Railroad. He started in the rail yard icehouse at age 14, studied independently to earn his electrician’s license, and eventually served as an electrical foreman for the northern region of BNSF until his retirement.

Fred married Carolyn King in 1952 and three daughters were born to this union of 32 years. Fred and Carolyn divorced yet maintained a good friendship in the years to follow, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to family and care and concern for each other. Service to his community and others was an important priority in Fred’s life. He spent 30 years as a member of the Dilworth Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Chief for 17 years. Always willing to lend a helping hand and never one to shy away from a challenge, Fred could often be found lying beneath a vehicle or atop of the tallest ladder assisting a friend.

Remaining constantly active and often defying his years, Fred worked hard and played hard. He loved time spent in the great outdoors and welcomed friends and family around his kitchen table to tell tales of hunting and fishing while sharing the spoils. The Stricker family deer hunt and hunting in South Dakota and Colorado were among his favorites. He was especially proud of his Italian heritage and of his family and has blessed them with many rich traditions and cherished recipes. He sported a great sense of humor, often telling jokes at his own expense.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Fred Sr. and Mary Stricker, and beloved siblings, brother, Robert (Bob) Stricker and sister, Marijean Swiggum.

He is survived by three daughters, Randi (Randy Theis) Gottenborg, Charisse (Eivind) Oland, Diana (Dean) Moeller; six grandchildren, Ivy (Dave) Dandar, Christian and Gabriel Oland, Kyle (Marissa) Moeller, Brandon Moeller, and Ryan (Christine) Moeller; three great grandchildren, Sigmund and Fritz Dandar, and Samantha Moeller; and special friend, Della Dahl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Dilworth Fire Department Relief Association, PO Box 187, Dilworth, MN, 56529.