William "Bill" Frickel, 89, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2010, at Billings Clinic Hospital, from complications of diabetes.

Dad was born June 3, 1921, between Park City and Laurel. His parents were David and Elizabeth Frickel; his grandparents were David and Katie Frickel and Henry and Mary Reil. He grew up in the Laurel area.

Dad was drafted in 1942 into the Army. He served in the 508th Parachute Infantry 82nd Airborne. His unit parachuted into France, behind enemy lines, the night before D-Day, June 6, 1944. He also had combat jumps into Holland and Belgium. His unit was assigned as an honor guard for General Eisenhower. Dad was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge and other medals. After his discharge in 1945 as a Staff Sergeant, he returned to Laurel.

Dad worked for the Northern Pacific-Burlington Northern Railroad until retiring in 1981. He loved to go fishing, growing a garden and doing woodworking.

He married Violet Derheim on Aug. 23, 1947. From this union came five children.
Dad is survived by his wife of 63 years; sons, Bob (Kerry) Downing of Park City, Dennis of Billings, Dwain (Debi) of Park City and Dean of Laurel; daughter, Darlene (Bob) Campbell of San Leandro, Calif.; brother Dave and sister Sally; 18 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and he loved them all.

Dad is preceded in death by his parents and stepmother Mary; sisters, Lydia Brester, Mary Kraft and Betty Pease; brothers, Ruben, Adolph, Harold, Jim and Tom.

Source: Billings Gazette, Saturday, July 3, 2010