Fred Cushman

Fred Cushman, 94, Mandan, passed away November 5, 2017 at Sanford Health in Bismarck.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Shane Campbell as celebrant.

Fredrick Bertrand Cushman, better known as ‘Fred’ – named after his father and grandfather – was born September 26, 1923 in Seattle, WA to parents Charles F. (Fred) and Frances (Pelton) Cushman.  Fred was born fourth of seven siblings, one brother Jack, and five sisters, Frances ‘Muriel’, Gloria, Beryl, Betty, and Joan.

Fred’s lifelong occupation was a truck driver, driving truck after high school until he served in the U.S. Army in World War II for the 103rd EVAC Hospital in France.  Fred always was very proud to say he was a veteran.  Upon his discharge from the service, he drove truck for different companies until he hired on with the City of Tacoma, Sanitation Dept.  Fred retired in 1995 after working 25 years for the City of Tacoma.

In December 1943, just before leaving for the service, Fred married Jenny Gress, sister to Eugene Gress, and the couple eventually had two sons, Fred Jr and Paul.  Jenny, Fred’s wife of 35 years, passed away unexpectedly in 1978.

Fred and Pauline (Sturn-Gress) were married in Tacoma on August 3, 1980.  Their family now consisted of two Cushman boys and four Gress boys, plus grandkids and great grandkids.  Fred having only been to ND once in the summer of 1952, was quite overwhelmed when they came home for a family event in late fall of 1987.  It had snowed a lot and was quite cold.  Fred, trying to be the helpful guy he was, went out to shovel the walkway, and ended up with frostbite on his ears.

After being retired a couple years, they moved to ND in June of 1989 to enjoy their extended family.  Fred soon learned to respect ND’s hot summers and brutal, snowy, cold winters.  But for NOT having been born here, Fred grew to LOVE this great state of North Dakota, and came to call it ‘home’.

Fred and Pauline’s life quickly filled with making friends, helping family with various tasks from sausage making to farm chores, and attending many family and social events.  They traveled some, played a lot of cards, and kept busy to say the least.  Fred always enjoyed visiting, loved fishing, bowling, running errands, playing pool- and yes playing  cards.  Over the years, Fred made many ND friends and earned several patches and some neat trophies to acknowledge his good sportsmanship.

Later years had Fred reading, bowling a few lanes, enjoying pool and Bingo, watching all of his favorite sports on TV,  and of course he enjoyed his wife’s excellent cooking.  He was very lucky to feel as good as he did, considering he was a colon cancer survivor.

Fred will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Pauline of 37 years, his sons, Fred Jr (Alysa) Cushman and Paul L. Cushman; stepsons, Gery (Sue) Gress, Tom (Georgia) Gress, and Russell Gress; step daughter-in-law, Judy Gress; sister, Joan; 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Fred is preceded in death by his wife, Jenny, his parents, Fred and Frances; brother, Jack (Joyce), sisters, Frances ‘Muriel’, Gloria, Beryl, and Betty; and stepson, Ron Gress.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to donor’s choice.