Lonnie L. Freier

Lonnie Lee Freier, 74, Bismarck, died April 23, 2018, in Phoenix, AZ. Services will be held at 12:00 Noon Friday, May 4, at Legacy United Methodist Church, 4600 Durango Dr., Bismarck, with Rev. Brandon Vetter officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 pm Friday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Thursday, May 3, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Lonnie Lee Freier was born January 14, 1944, at the family farm in Streeter, ND, the son of Jacob and Otillia (Wentz) Freier. He attended the country school through eighth grade and graduated from Streeter High School in 1963. Following graduation, he started working for Northern Improvement Construction. In 1968, he was drafted into the US Army, received basic training in Fort Lewis, WA, and served in Vietnam War from 1969 – 1970 in the artillery. He was honorably discharged in February 1970 as a E6 sgt. He met Sandra June Pfaff in November of 1970, and the couple were married on June 11, 1971, in Tappen. Three children were born to this union. He continued to work construction until the summer of 1974, when he bought the family farm. He set up to do dairy, stock cattle, and grain farming. He sold the dairy cattle in 1989 and continued with the stock cattle and grain. In 1996, they moved to Napoleon and continued to grain farm until 2001. Lonnie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1997. In 2001, they moved to Fargo, and Lonnie started helping Chad with his appliance repair business. In 2002, they moved to Glyndon, MN, and lived there until moving to Bismarck in August of 2015. In 2009, Lonnie and Sandra bought the house in San Tan Valley, AZ, to spend their winters there. Lonnie enjoyed farming, being outdoors, fixing his trucks and equipment, and was always tinkering. He loved being down in Arizona for the warm winters and playing his cards and dominoes. He didn’t like crowds but would talk to anyone, he loved conversation. He enjoyed the casino, cars, Nascar, and looking at old cars and old tractors. He was a member of the Streeter and Napoleon American Legions for 47 years. Lonnie’s attended Methodist Churches all his life. He was a trustee and usher at Ebenezer Church in Streeter. Wherever Lonnie lived, he enjoyed helping his neighbors, whenever there was a need. He was lucky enough to travel, including trips to Europe, Hawaii, many of the states, and a Caribbean cruise. Lonnie loved to spend time with his family. He had a sweet tooth and seemed to never tire of eating the new dessert recipes Stacie was always trying out as she learned to bake for him. His joy of fixing things was spent and passed along to Chad. In the beginning it was three-wheelers and dirt bikes, then trucks and eventually appliances. Lonnie never tired of playing games with Jennifer. From trickball in the living room to cards at the kitchen table. Family road trips were memories for the whole family. A family really bonds when they spend 5-10 days together in a car! Lonnie enjoyed his time with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. His prayer was to be “well” again and to be able to walk; now he is running and waiting to welcome his family to our Heavenly home. Lonnie is survived by his wife, Sandra, Bismarck; his children, Stacie (Travis) Klegstad, Thompson, ND, Chad (Jennifer) Freier, Glyndon, MN, and Jennifer (Jeremy) Alm, Bismarck; his grandchildren, Ashley (Alex) Bjerke, Andrew Klegstad, Allison and Emily Freier, McKenna Freier, Kayley Lipp, Ryder and Hudson Alm; his great-grandchildren, Landon Reistad and Natalie Bjerke; sisters and brothers, Esther Perman, Streeter, ND, Betty Freier, Bismarck, Terry (Sara) Freier, Fargo, and Tom (Melinda) Freier, Kindred, ND; sisters-in-law, Joyce Freier and Coreen Jablinski; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Frances Perman, Lawrence and Eugene Freier, and Floyd (in infancy); two brothers-in-law, Glen and Wallace Perman; and nephew, Troy Perman.