Anchorage resident Frederick Anthony Belgarde, 70, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on April 19, 2010.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Funeral Home's Witzleben Chapel, 1707 S. Bragaw St.
Fred was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Dunseith, N.D., and was a proud Native American of the Chippewa Tribe. He attended Dunseith Grade School, Wahpton Indian Grade School, and graduated from Flandreau Indian High School in South Dakota, where he was trained as a bricklayer. Although his academic achievements provided him opportunities to attend Harvard University, his true passion was bricklaying. Fred trained and worked passionately with his relatives and brought them to Alaska after moving here in 1965. He established his own company, Big Sky Masonry.
He served three years in the Air National Guard in Montana.
Fred married Lillian "Pepsi" Roy Davis on April 16, 1960, in Conrad, Mont.
His family wrote: "They shared 50 years together, raising a family, devoted to each other, their three children, and nine grandchildren. He loved his wife and family more than words can convey, but one visit with him and you would feel it.
"If you worked with Fred, and lasted on the job, you left a better person. Besides the robust, larger-than-life presence, he was the most caring, generous and loyal person. He would offer words of wisdom, motivation, and honesty. He also loved cribbage, craps and coffee and the annual trip with Pepsi to Las Vegas. Fred loved hunting with his dogs, grandchildren, son, friends and relatives."
He is survived by his beloved wife, Pepsi; daughters, Dawn Yeager and Carol Belgarde; son, Conrad Belgarde; son-in-law, Joseph Yeager; former son-in-law, Brian Snow; grandchildren, Arielle, Kyra and Tosca Yeager, Scott Snow, Drew Yeager, Dustyn Belgarde, Morgan, Bayley and Dalton Belgarde; brothers, Roderick and Patrick Belgarde; sisters-in-law, Norlene Belgarde and Jan Persicke; and many nieces and nephews.
He was looking forward to the birth of great-grandson Peter Keel III.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Willie Persicke.
Arrangements are with Legacy Funeral Home, Witzleben Bragaw Chapel.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Pepsi and family: I am sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of sorrow.
Marlene McGlashan
April 27, 2010
My condolences to your family for your loss.
Gary Davis
April 24, 2010
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. Happy memories will carry you through this sorrowful time.
Gary and Lori Humphrey, Anchorage, Alaska
April 24, 2010
God bless you Fred Belgarde, you were like a second father to me, and besides my father, "the greatest man I have ever known"!!
I thank God every day for the priviledge of knowing you..
And God bless all of you in Alaska; Pepsi, Carol, Dawn and Conrad. I just wish i could have been there, but i found out too late, otherwise I would have!!
You are all like brother, sister, and mother to me.
Sincerely
Lonnie and Patricia Owens
Lonnie Owens
April 24, 2010
I enjoyed working with Fred, both as a health care provider and as a customer. May he have a wonderful life in the hereafter.
Don Bigelow
April 23, 2010
Dawn,Pepsi,and family.
We were so sorry to hear of your loss.Our hearts go out to you at this time and in the days ahead.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help at this time.
Becky Yeager-White
April 23, 2010
Carol Many prayers and well wishes for you and your family. You'll be in my prayers. Pati Baines
Patricia Baines
April 23, 2010
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
April 23, 2010
Dawn and all the Family of Mr. Belgarde, My sincere condolences and may God be with each and everyone of you during this difficult time of loss, he is in a better place and with faith you will meet up again on that "beautiful shore". The way you spoke of your dad I know he was a very special and important person in your lives...
Eli and Marie Gregg
April 22, 2010
We loved our Brother very much ,Once you have met Fred you can honestly say he was one of a kind . A very enjoyable person to play cards with. Which he did a lot. He will be miss by all of us.
God Bless his family. Rod and Norlene Belgarde
April 22, 2010
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