Fred Winters, 83, of Great Falls, passed away on May 4, 2017 at his home, surrounded by his family, after a valiant two-year battle with cancer.  Arrangements are under the care of Croxford Funeral Home, with a Memorial Service scheduled for Friday, May 12th at 1:00 PM at First English Lutheran Church.

Fred was born February 26, 1934, in Chinook, MT to John Dudley Winter, JR. and Cora Belle Winter Searles.  He was one of seven children and was preceded in death by brothers, Dick, Garland and Jim, and a sister, Irene Gorman.  He is survived by his sisters, Della Amen and Rosie Toner of Idaho.  Fred added the “S” to Winter because he often heard people say “Here come the Winter’s boys.”

Fred moved and worked in many different places during his youth.  At 17 he worked the green chain at the sawmill in Kooskia, Idaho and fought forest fires there.  He also picked spuds and topped sugar beets in Idaho, worked in the pea cannery in Pendleton, Oregon, and picked spuds in Grandview, Washington.  He worked for a diesel shop in Havre, as well as the railroad, and fueled the rigs for HR Clack when the Beaver Creek road was under construction.

One day Fred went to the Shaffer residence in Havre to ask one of the girls to go to a movie and Rosella answered the door.  The rest, as they say, is history—after a short intermission.  On the night Fred proposed to Rosella, he fell asleep on the way back to Chinook and crashed his Chrysler into a tree.  He spent six months in the Havre hospital and upon his recovery he and Rosella were married on August 6, 1954.  They had five children—Jeff, Mitch, Lisa, Clint and Lora.

Fred opened Winter’s Transmission in 1969, which his three sons are still operating today.  He was also a skilled carpenter and besides building his own homes, he created beautiful cedar and oak boxes and many oak china cabinets for family and friends.

After losing his first wife on August 6, 1998 to cancer, he found love again with Donna Fulcher and they were married June 1, 2001 in Las Vegas.  He often said that he had two heart attacks and he married them both.

He leaves behind a large family, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many good friends.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation in Fred’s memory, please donate to the charity of your choice, or First English Lutheran Church or Peace Hospice. 

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