Frederick Renshaw Sherwood, Sr. age 87, of Helena

Frederick “Rick” Renshaw Sherwood passed away on Tuesday morning, August 20, 2013 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena.  Rick was 87 and died of natural causes.

Rick was born on March 8, 1926 in Livingston, Montana, the second child of Vernon H. Sherwood and Mildred V. Sherwood (formerly Renshaw).  Rick grew up in Wilsall, where his father operated the creamery.  Mildred sent him to school a year early; she always said she wanted to get him out of the house earlier.  Rick excelled in sports, especially track and basketball.  As a young man he enjoyed camping and fishing in the Crazy Mountains.  

Rick enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He was training with his B-17 squadron in Texas when the war ended and he was honorably discharged on October 29, 1945.  Later Rick was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry through ROTC at Montana State College.

As a small town boy Rick was impressed by the big city of Bozeman and enjoyed his college years there.  He joined the SAE fraternity, and a fraternity brother introduced him to Marjorie Frazer, who became the most important person for the rest of Rick’s life.  They were married at the Immaculate Conception Church in Butte on August 18, 1951.

Rick received his degree in health and physical education, as well as a teaching certificate in 1949.  He taught in White Sulphur Springs and Missoula.  He also worked as a lifeguard, and saved a girl from drowning in Kalispell.  In order to support his growing family, Rick joined the Anaconda Company in 1955, first working in Columbia Falls and shortly afterwards in Butte.  For the rest of his career he worked in employee relations.  The family moved to Bonner in 1962, where Rick eventually became Personnel Manager as well as Chair of the School Board. Rick was transferred to Tucson, Arizona from 1972-1974, and then back to Butte where he became Employee Relations Manager for the mine, first for the Anaconda Company and later for ARCO.

Rick retired in 1985.  By that time he and Marj had raised six incredible children, putting all of them through various colleges.  They enjoyed visiting their children and twenty grandchildren, and spending their summers at their place on Flathead Lake. In addition to fishing Rick enjoyed swimming, bowling, horseshoes, bridge, watching the Bobcats, and singing old songs for the delight of younger children and the embarrassment of older ones.  In 2009 Rick and Marj moved to Helena.

            Preceding him in death were Rick’s parents and his older sister Gwen Smith from Dillon.  He is survived by his wife of 62 years, and his children Frederick ”Rick” F. (JoAnne) Sherwood of Helena, their children Joseph (Abby), Michael and Anne of Missoula; Candace M. Sherwood, of Anchorage, Alaska, her children Chris Mumford of Pennsylvania and Gavin Mumford of Anchorage; Ronald M. (Joni) Sherwood, and their children Ron, Ben and Amanda of Texas; Susan A. (Bruce) Neumann of Geyser, Montana, and their children Ryan and Matt of Billings and Mandy of Bozeman; Cindy L. (Andy) Nickol and their children Sherwood, Tori and Mary Frances of Helena; and Mary K. (Kurt) Schrantz and their children Frederick “Rick”, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Christina, Veronica and Lucas of Oklahoma City, and numerous other nieces and nephews. Rick’s grandchildren were all able to see him over the last few months, as well as all six of his children coming to be with him during the week of his last illness.

            Rick was a man of strong principles as well as a sense of humor. He served his God, his country, his communities, his friends, and especially his family.  He had such an incredible heart and a great love and appreciation for everyone in his life.  He instilled duty in all of his children, and more importantly the love (and humor) that this family has for one another. 

            The family wishes to thank Rosetta Assisted Living for the kindness and skill with which they treated Dad during the last months of his life

            The family will begin receiving friends at 6:00 p.m. with a Vigil service to be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 22, 2013 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 23^rd at the Cathedral of Saint Helena. Burial with military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A funeral reception will be held in the social center of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home immediately following the burial.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Rick’s name to the American Macular Degeneration Association, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA, 01061-0515, www.macular.org, to Our Lady of the Rockies in Butte, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Service Schedule

Family and Friends Service

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday August 22, 2013

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave

Helena, MT 59602

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Vigil

7:00 p.m.

Thursday August 22, 2013

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave

Helena, MT 59602

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Funeral Mass

10:00 a.m.

Friday August 23, 2013

Cathedral of St. Helena

530 N. Ewing Street

Helena, MT 59601

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Burial with Military Honors

Following the funeral Mass

Friday August 23, 2013

Resurrection Cemetery

3700 N. Montana Ave

Helena, MT 59062

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Reception

Following the Burial

Friday August 23, 2013

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave

Helena, MT 59602

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