Fred Blodgett

Fred E. Blodgett, Lokout, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, 73, passed away unexpectedly on August 16th. Fred was born August 29, 1949 to Fred Blodgett and Bertha Nash in Yakima, WA. Fred grew up in Wapato and White Swan, he attended and graduated from White Swan High School. After high school, Fred attended Haskell Indian Junior College. He left Haskell, shortly after arriving to serve in the US Army from 1969-1972. In the Army, Fred served in Vietnam and Germany, his many jobs included Helicopter Maintenance Instructor, Crew Chief, Door Gunner, and Co-Pilot on a light attack helicopter. Fred was a proud Veteran and member of the Yakama Warriors Association. After completing his time in the Army, Fred returned to Haskell to finish his education, it was there that he met his true love, Tina. They married in 1974. Fred’s greatest gift and love, aside from Tina, was his children, Theresa and Spencer. Together they raised their children in Leavenworth. He had a special bond with each and loved them very much. Fred’s love for the outdoors extended to his long career with the US Forest Service. He worked on many regional forests and fought many fires around the country, within many timber departments. Fred retired from the Okanogan Wenatchee Forest (US Forest Service) in 2003 after 34 years. Fred settled into retirement in Leavenworth before making the move after 31 years, with Tina to Wapato in 2020. There they built a new home and began to establish new roots and plant new trees. Fred is proceeded in death by father Fred Blodgett, mother Bertha Nash, sister Marlene Blodgett and daughter Jenetta Blodgett. Fred is survived by his loving wife, Tina (Reeder) Blodgett, Theresa (Mike)Fuller of Kennewick, Washington, Spencer Blodgett of Windsor, Colorado. Grandchildren Jaylyn, Elias, Ayiana and Raelyn. Siblings Jaci (Roy) Dilman, Steve (Amy) Blodgett. And numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held Friday, August 18th at 10am at Valley Hills Funeral Home (Dressing and Viewing), 5pm Dinner at the Wapato Long House with a 7pm traditional funeral to follow. Saturday, August 19th at 6am a sunrise service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in White Swan, Washington. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fred Blodgett, please visit our flower store.