Born in Arcola Saskatchewan and at a year old moved with his family to homestead in Sunrise near Fort St. John BC.
He attended a one room country school until 1944 when he and his twin sister Jean attended boarding school in Three Hills, Alberta. After grade 9 he returned home and then headed north to work for three years building the Alaska Highway doing survey work and carpentry.
He met his wife, Lavern Crown in Fort St. John and followed her to the Okanagan valley where he won her heart and they married, December 28, 1950.
On his 22nd birthday, Fred and Lavern headed north to Terrace BC to work for the winter. That resulted in a 44 year adventure where they raised five children and immersed themselves in the community. Fred worked at the Skeena View Lodge, Columbia Cellulose working first aid and industrial relations. He then moved into construction carpentry, to selling life insurance and then as an instructor at North West Community College where he worked until retirement in 1990.
Fred was a social person who made friends everywhere he went and had a passion for giving back to his community. He was always an active participant in his church and instrumental in the Evangelical Free Church. He taught Sunday school, acted as church Treasurer and a board member. Fred also sat on the board for the Mills Memorial Hospital, was a volunteer firefighter and first aid attendant.
After he retired at the age of 60, Fred continued to stay busy volunteering his time with the local bible camps and Conservative Party Board and managing their rental homes. In 1995, he and Lavern relocated to Vernon where they enjoyed retired life. Fred and Lavern travelled with their RV and wintered in West Texas, Arizona, California and Mexico, visiting most of the US States. They travelled across Canada and enjoyed several cruises. When home in the summer months, Fred continued to volunteer his time working at Eagle Bay Bible Camp and driving delivery truck to fill his time until the age of 74.
Fred and Lavern celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with family on December 28, 2015. He was predeceased by his brother Keith, daughter Sharon and his twin sister Jean.
He is deeply missed by his wife Lavern, siblings Merle & Francis, son Stan (Glenda), daughters Joan (Greg), Donna (Carlo), son David (Melanie), 9 grandchildren and their spouses, 14 great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters in laws, nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.
A service was held on Wednesday, August 24 at 2:00 PM at Grace Bible Church.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Grace Bible Church building fund.
Condolences can be sent to: fshislop@gmail.com.