Seigfried "Freddie" Soennichsen, Jr.

BILLINGS- Seigfried "Freddie" Soennichsen, Jr., 83, retired Air Force, passed away January 11, 2018, in Arizona, where he spent his winters.

Viewing and sharing of memories with the family will be Friday, January 19, at 7 p.m., at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel on Saturday, January 20. Interment will be at the Malta Cemetery with Military Honors. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Freddie was born in Malta, Mont., on January 21, 1934, the fourth child and first son to Florence Conquest and Siegfried George Soennichsen, Sr., who had started the gas station in Whitewater. In 1946 they moved to Roundup, however, Freddie had made up his mind that he was going to stay in Whitewater at his two uncles, Harold and Marven (Clara) Soennichsen's ranch. His brothers Florin Sr. and Mark moved with their folks. According to family, Freddie was a wild child in his younger days and he was quite the character of the family, but in a good way. You knew when he was in the room, always loud and cussing up a storm. He was the anchor to our family, he was always there. Everybody loved him, he had worked for a lot of ranches, had a lot of friends and was always out and about to help everyone. Freddie constantly went to check on the family and friends, even though it was short, he always stopped, "I think he had ants in his pants." No matter where he went he was always bumping into someone he knew. He lived a good story, or always had a good story to tell.

Freddie met his first wife in Melstone, then joined the US Air Force along with his two brothers. Moving all around the country, they had four children, Joly and Tom in Arizona, Lisa in Glasgow, Freddie Jr. in Washington then eventually retired in Lewistown, Mont. He loved to garden and was very proud of his big sunflowers. Another passion was his love of horses. He received a wagon train master award and enjoyed taking his children on many wagon trains "up north." There were some wonderful times at Smith River and he hardly ever missed any rodeos in Great Falls, Malta, Roundup and Miles City was always a big hit. While in Lewistown he made his daily rounds to the Moose and a few others where he had to sign in. One day he made his grandsons Chase and Kelton ride with him in his horse and buggy, because he had one too many dewies and couldn't drive. He also rode his horse in another time, and it made the front page of the Lewistown newspaper, he had tied his horse to a meter, but received a ticket for not putting money in the meter.

About this time, Freddie and his wife went their separate ways. Tom and his boys helped take care of his place in Lewistown. Then when Freddie Jr. returned from serving in Iraq, he stepped in and became real close with his dad and they did a lot together. When the boys couldn't be there, Lisa and Joly would take the little ones and step in, they even helped build a new fence, a lot of hard work, but still had fun.

Freddie and Jeannie Bly became snowbirds two years ago and loved every minute of it, spending winters in Arizona. He had been fighting cancer for many years, he would always surprise us as he was quite the fighter and would never give up. He also had a special lady (Jeannie) to help him through it all, along with his sister Elaina.

Freddie is survived by his children: Joly Boheman, Tommy Soennichsen, Lisa (Rod) Mogen, and Freddie Soennichsen, His latest beloved: Jeannie Bly, Sister: Elaina (Gary) Badvinus, Brother: Florin (Dorthy) Soennichsen, 11 Grandchildren, 19 Great-grandchildren and three step-Great grandchildren, as well as many other family members, young and old, too many to list.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Brother Mark and his previous wife passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 15, 2017.