Obituary - Delbert E. Frei

Delbert Edward Frei, 90, of Lewiston, died Thursday, March 15, 2012, at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston.

Delbert was born Jan. 17, 1922, at Bovill, to Edward and Maggie Granlie Frei. He attended school in Juliaetta before moving to Deary, where he went to work in the woods doing various jobs as a logger. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and trained to become a radio operator and telegrapher at Fort Knox, Ky. After his training, he was shipped to Rhineland Central Europe and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was assigned the position of Radio Operator, 740, telegrapher, where it was his duty to receive messages using Morse code. He would decipher the message and send it to whatever division it was for by courier. He was awarded the American Theater of Operations Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, European, and African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, Victory Medal and a Sharpshooter Expert. After his discharge in 1946 as a master sergeant, he returned to the area and resumed working in the woods. He became an accomplished telegrapher, but turned down that position, opting to work outdoors as a section hand with the WI&M Railroad. He worked for them for more than 23 years, living most of his life in Harvard with his mother, Maggie Loo. Delbert then began working for the school district at Potlatch as a custodian, also retiring from there.

He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, camping and picking huckleberries. His favorite spot for huckleberries always included rattlesnakes, so he always carried his .44 magnum pistol. He had been a resident of the Veterans Home for the past four years.

Delbert is survived by two brothers; and a sister. He also leaves nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Virgil and Martin Frei; and a sister, Nola Piatt.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. Burial with military honors will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery near Deary. A reception will be conducted at the Deary Community Center following the service.

The family suggests that memorials be made to any veteran organization of the donor's choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.

Lewiston Tribune, March 20, 2012, p. 5C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock