Norman Perry Friedrich

Norman P. Friedrich, 80, a longtime Wenatchee Valley Crop Duster and Orchardist, passed away at his home in East Wenatchee on Friday evening, September 2, 2011, following a long illness with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born on November 7, 1930 at Coulee, Washington to the late Perry A. and Mary E. (Hawks) Friedrich, as the third of ten children. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Bonners Ferry, ID. Norman received his education and graduated from high school in Bonners Ferry. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and became Crew Chief, repairing and maintaining airplanes during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he met his wife of 56 years, while attending Wenatchee Business College. They were married in Wenatchee on June 18, 1955. They made their home together in East Wenatchee. He began his lifelong love of flying when he went to work at Wenatchee Air Service, later known as Inland Air as a Crop Duster. This allowed him to work for his uncle Bill Friedrich, who was one of the owners of the crop dusting business. They purchased property in East Wenatchee and he built their home in 1963 and 1964 and they began an apple orchard. In his spare time, Norm restored more than a dozen antique airplanes, as well as old cars, buggys and wagons. They owned mules and horses and they were put to work. Norm built his first plane from a crashed 1941 Aeronca Chief, when he was 17 years old. Never mind, the learning to fly came after the plane. Norm was a member of the Wenatchee Free Methodist Church and always had God in the seat beside him when he flew. He is survived by his wife, Beulah (Braun) Friedrich, East Wenatchee, two daughters and son's-in-law, Sharon & Rick Lee, Seattle and Elizabeth & Tom Hurst, East Wenatchee; one son and daughter-in-law, James "Jim" & Lisa Friedrich, Oakley, KS; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Donald & Marge Friedrich, Stanwood, WA and Billy Friedrich, Wenatchee; four sisters, JoAnn Mooney, Marlow, OK, Marlene Craig, Blain, WA, Yvonne DeArmond, Coeur d'Alene, ID and Ronda Greer, Tulsa, OK and two grandsons, Kyle and Christopher Hurst, East Wenatchee. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Gene, Bobby and Ray Friedrich. A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in Evergreen Memorial Park followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at Eastmont Community Church, 783 4th street N.E., East Wenatchee, with Pastor Ron Friedrich & Pastor Bob Lenderman officiating. Friends who wish may make memorial donations in his name to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, the Salvation Army, Serve Wenatchee Valley or the Eastmont Community Church. You are invited to view his online tribute and leave a message for the family at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Norman Perry Friedrich

November 7, 1930 - September 2, 2011