Rodney Raymond Freeman "was taken to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, after a painful struggle with mesothelioma cancer.
Rod was born on April 29, 1937, to Alberta and Melvin Freeman in Kalispell. He grew up and went to grade school in Kila, and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1955.
He served in the National Guard after high school.
On Jan. 16, 1965, he married his sweetheart, Carol Freeman.
His career was spent working as an electrician. Rod served his electrical apprenticeship at the Anaconda Copper Company in Great Falls. After his apprenticeship, he worked at the Anaconda Aluminum Company in Columbia Falls, the Flathead Irrigation Project in Polson and Western Power Administration in Havre. He retired in December 1999 and moved back to his home in Kalispell.
Rod and Carol raised three children.
He enjoyed hiking, camping, hunting, spending time with his family and friends, his three cats and helping others.
Rod was very active in Trinity Lutheran Church, Bible Study Fellowship, 40 Days For Life and Lutherans For Life. Rod loved the Lord and fervently studied his Word.
Rod is survived by his wife, Carol, of Kalispell; his daughters, Laurie Ohs and husband Rick of Kalispell, and Luci Meech and husband Donnie of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and son, Will Freeman, and wife, Yuka, of Toyokawa, Japan.
Rod's favorite times were spent with his nine grandchildren, Jeremy Ohs and his wife Kallie of Somers; Savannah Ohs of Kalispell and St. Paul, Minn.; Solomon, Caedmon, Naomi, Ariel and Susanna Meech of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and Aika and Sarah Freeman of Toyokawa. His surviving aunts are Agnes Gustafson of Kalispell and Opal Loveless of Polson; brother-in-law, Gary Gustafson and wife, Anne, of Missoula; nephew, Jim Freeman, and wife, Delphine, of Kalispell; nieces, Judy Gustafson, and Shirley Gustafson and husband Dave Gustafson, all of Missoula; and cousins, Donald Loveless, David Loveless and Janet Elsass of Kalispell, Irene Loveless of Libby, Bob Loveless of Florida, Carol Kinsley of Arizona and Faye Freeman of Kalispell. He also leaves behind his three cats, Peter, Fluffy and Esther.
He will be remembered by his family and friends as a kind and helpful Christian man.
Memorial donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Lutherans For Life.
Viewing will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 18, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. The celebration of his life service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with a luncheon served following the service.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rodney Freeman, please visit our flower store.
Rod was born on April 29, 1937, to Alberta and Melvin Freeman in Kalispell. He grew up and went to grade school in Kila, and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1955.
He served in the National Guard after high school.
On Jan. 16, 1965, he married his sweetheart, Carol Freeman.
His career was spent working as an electrician. Rod served his electrical apprenticeship at the Anaconda Copper Company in Great Falls. After his apprenticeship, he worked at the Anaconda Aluminum Company in Columbia Falls, the Flathead Irrigation Project in Polson and Western Power Administration in Havre. He retired in December 1999 and moved back to his home in Kalispell.
Rod and Carol raised three children.
He enjoyed hiking, camping, hunting, spending time with his family and friends, his three cats and helping others.
Rod was very active in Trinity Lutheran Church, Bible Study Fellowship, 40 Days For Life and Lutherans For Life. Rod loved the Lord and fervently studied his Word.
Rod is survived by his wife, Carol, of Kalispell; his daughters, Laurie Ohs and husband Rick of Kalispell, and Luci Meech and husband Donnie of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and son, Will Freeman, and wife, Yuka, of Toyokawa, Japan.
Rod's favorite times were spent with his nine grandchildren, Jeremy Ohs and his wife Kallie of Somers; Savannah Ohs of Kalispell and St. Paul, Minn.; Solomon, Caedmon, Naomi, Ariel and Susanna Meech of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and Aika and Sarah Freeman of Toyokawa. His surviving aunts are Agnes Gustafson of Kalispell and Opal Loveless of Polson; brother-in-law, Gary Gustafson and wife, Anne, of Missoula; nephew, Jim Freeman, and wife, Delphine, of Kalispell; nieces, Judy Gustafson, and Shirley Gustafson and husband Dave Gustafson, all of Missoula; and cousins, Donald Loveless, David Loveless and Janet Elsass of Kalispell, Irene Loveless of Libby, Bob Loveless of Florida, Carol Kinsley of Arizona and Faye Freeman of Kalispell. He also leaves behind his three cats, Peter, Fluffy and Esther.
He will be remembered by his family and friends as a kind and helpful Christian man.
Memorial donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Lutherans For Life.
Viewing will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 18, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. The celebration of his life service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, with a luncheon served following the service.