Fred W. Flesher, 99, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014. Born in Portland, Fred grew up on Flesher Slough in Yaquina Bay in Newport.
Fred trapped, hunted and fished from a young age becoming a commercial fisherman in Newport until he joined the Navy in 1942 serving 4 years on a destroyer during WWII.
After the War he managed, was a resident instructor and professional skater in the Newport Skating Rink. He married Edith Vickstrom in 1952 and they operated skating rinks from Newport, Lakeview and taught in San Mateo, Calif. In 1955 they settled in Gresham and operated the Gresham Skating Rink for 18 years, closing in 1973. They also had Skating Rinks in Boise, Idaho and Coos Bay. Fred was active in the Roller Skating Rink Association, Elks, Toastmasters, Kiwanis and was a licensed pilot, flying the family to many family vacations in their 250 Comanche.
In 1973 he bought the Lebanon Skate Rink and taught many to skate until he retired in 1979. He then moved to British Columbia on 160 acres next to the Frasier River living with no electricity, running water or phone. He lived well, hunting, fishing, trapping, guiding, snowmobiling and riding his eight horses. In 2002 he moved back to Lebanon to be closer to family but continued hunting. Fred touched many lives and loved to tell his adventures to family and friends, always good for a joke or two.
He was preceded in death by his brother Lynn Flesher and sister Lois Needles.
Fred is survived by wife, Edith Flesher (divorced 1974); son Bill (Julie) Flesher; daughter Lorna (Mike) Glenn; grandchildren Jessica, Kristy, Joe and Jeff; six great-grandchildren and many close friends.
A celebration of life service is planned on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the River Center, 3000 S. Santiam Hwy. Lebanon 97355 at 2:00 p.m.