Elaine Fredrickson Died Nov. 17, 2016

Elaine Fredrickson

Died Nov. 17, 2016

NORTHPORT - Elaine Southwell Fredrickson, 96, of Northport, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 at Culver Meadows in Traverse City.  She was born Oct. 21, 1920, in Omena, the only daughter of Samuel and Rose (Brown) Southwell.  She attended Northport Public School and graduated in 1938.  

Elaine was employed at AC Spark Plug in Flint and Bahle’s Grocery in Suttons Bay.  On Sept. 21, 1944, she enlisted in the United States Coast Guard SPARS until the end of World War II.  She was stationed in Palm Beach, FL, Philadelphia, PA, and Chatham, MA, as an Electrician’s Mate 3^rd Class. 

She returned to Leelanau Co. and worked at the Suttons Bay Telephone Co.  She renewed a school friendship with classmate George R. Fredrickson and they were married on Sept. 15, 1948 at the Presbyterian Church in Omena.  Together they ran the family farm and raised their children in Northport.  In 1980 she retired from Northport Public School where she worked as a teacher’s aide. She was a member of Trinity Church United Church of Christ for 67 years. 

Elaine is survived by her two children, Gary (Carol) Fredrickson of Northport and Deanne (Michael) Richter of Suttons Bay; six grandchildren, Gregory Fredrickson (Carla Forrester) of Northport, Nels (Katherine) Fredrickson of Hudsonville, Christine (Matthew) Vipond of Traverse City, Jonathan (Carrie) Richter of Suttons Bay, Joshua (AnnaElise Chartier) Richter of Kewadin, and Melissa Richter of Suttons Bay; ten great-grandchildren, Grant Fredrickson of Chicago, Elizabeth and Davis Fredrickson of Northport, Owen and Tristan Fredrickson of Hudsonville, Zachary Richter of Suttons Bay, Emmelyn Chartier, Brynlee, Jamison and Rory Richter of Kewadin. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband George on March 22, 2012; three brothers, Herbert (Ivalette), Francis (Helen), Lester (Annette) Southwell, and an infant brother Robert Southwell; her granddaughter Randa Marie Fredrickson and granddaughter-in-law Deanna Fredrickson. 

Cremation has taken place.

A memorial service celebrating both George and Elaine’s life will be held Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 at 10:00am at Trinity Church United Church of Christ in Northport with burial to follow at Leelanau Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684 and/or Leelanau Township Foundation (NAHA), PO Box 453, Northport, MI 49670 and/or The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Foundation, PO Box 43, Northport, MI 49670.

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