“Fred” Frederick A. Dewolf, age 90 of Helena

Frederick Arthur DeWolf Jr., age 90, a retired long time Helena merchant died May 8, 2013 at the Big Sky Care Center in Helena.

Fred was born May 19, 1922 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Frederick Arthur DeWolf Sr. and Anna May (Shriner) DeWolf. Along with his brothers, William and George, they ran the Union Market Grocery Store and Butcher Shop until he retired in 1986. The store was a Helena icon and the three brothers had a can-do attitude that allowed them to prosper despite chain store competitors.

The brothers passed out hundreds of free hot dogs for shoppers at the meat counter to munch on while they made their selections. At times, the small market at the corner of Sixth and Jackson filled to capacity with customers lined up in rows of three to four deep and three to four wide. Besides selling custom cut meats, the business took telephone grocery orders and delivered by pickup to customers throughout Helena. The three brothers had a strong rapport with their customers and they became known as the “By Golly Boys” for their folksy dialogue.

Fred was drafted into World War II in 1943. He ended up in Africa firing anti-aircraft guns. Six months later he joined the Signal Corps where he was assigned to coding and deciphering top secret messages. The job was in Italy and while there, Fred was granted an audience with Pope Pius the 12^th.

With the end of the War, Fred returned to Helena and he married Shirley Lou Kelsey on February 14^th, 1948. He graduated from Carroll College in 1949 and then went to work at the Union Market, which was then owned by his father.

Fred needed a house, so he built one. Using lumber hauled from a lumber mill at Silver City, he hired a contractor to excavate the basement and then he went to work doing everything else from roofing to framing to plumbing and wiring. Fred was an enthusiastic swimmer and an avid gardener. He will be deeply missed.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Arthur DeWolf Sr. and Anna May (Shriner) DeWolf; his wife, Shirley Lou (Kelsey) DeWolf; his son, Kenneth Ray DeWolf; and his brother, George DeWolf. He is survived by his son, Jim DeWolf and his wife, Marlene DeWolf; granddaughter, Jordan Benham and her husband, Andrew Benham; grandson, Scott DeWolf; his brother William ‘Bill’ DeWolf; and his sister, Joan Kain and her husband, Larry Kain.

Family will begin to receive friends from 10 -11 a.m., on Wednesday, May 15 at Retz Funeral Home with the funeral service to
follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery following the service. A reception will be held at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Banquet Hall, 3750 N. Montana Ave. following the graveside service.To offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Fred, please visit below.

Service Schedule

Funeral Service

11:00 a.m.

Wednesday May 15, 2013

Retz Funeral Home

315 East 6th Avenue

Helena, Montana 59601

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Interment

Following funeral service with Military Honors

Wednesday May 15, 2013

Sunset Memorial Gardens

7100 N. Montana

Helena, Montana 59602

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Reception

Following Graveside Service

Wednesday May 15, 2013

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Banquet Hall

3750 N. Montana Avenue

Helena, Montana 59602

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