FRED H. KAUL obituary

Fred H. Kaul, 92, died Wednesday, May 9, 2007, of natural causes Wednesday morning at a local nursing home.

A vigil service was held Sunday, May 13, 2007,m at 7 p.m. at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel. A Funeral Liturgy will be today at 11 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with burial of cremated remains to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Fred was born Feb. 17, 1915, in Anamoose, N.D., and when he was 2 months old his parents put everything in a wagon and moved north of H i n s d a l e near the C a n a d i a n line to a homestead at what l a t e r became a G e r m a n s p e a k i n g colony. Fred did not speak English until first grade when the family moved to Vandalia and he began school there. Fred's uncle John Rasmussen gave him a horse and saddle and he began riding to school on horseback. He was responsible for his sister, Lillian, and the care of the horse all at the age of nine. When his twin sisters attended school he brought them all in a buggy. In the winter they traveled by sleigh. Their mother would heat rocks and bundle everyone up in blankets with the warm rocks for warmth. The twins rode in the back while Fred and Lillian rode in the front. At the age of 10 Fred hired out himself and the horse for work at area ranches. He drove the hay stacker and started using the buck rake. Fred left home about age 16 or 17. He went to work at the Fort Peck Dam and at age 21 he moved to Havre where he sold and set up John Deere machinery. He eventually went to work for the Great Northern Railroad as a heavy equipment operator in earth moving. After leaving this field Fred went to work for the St. Joseph's School and the Great Falls School District as a stationary engineer and retired in 1980. On Aug. 19, 1939, he married Albertina C. “Bert” Vandewiele in Malta. Fred and Bert enjoyed many years together traveling and camping in their motor home, including as campground hosts for the Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Fred and Bert even received the Volunteer of the Year award from the State of Montana from the Parks Department, they also performed community service including eight years as the pastry and salad cook at the senior center. He was a member of St. Gerard's Church, the Knights of Columbus, a Rambling Sam of the Good Sam's Club and a member of the Union Operating Engineers as well as holding office in the R.I.C.A. Club for new members of the Catholic Church. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Molly (Bundas) Kaul; sisters, Lillian Borst and Betty Hoover; twin sisters, Eileen Kluver and Irene Hartley; brother, Harvey Kaul; and grandson, Todd Kaul. Fred is survived by his wife of over 67 years, Albertina C. “Bert” (Vandewiele) Kaul; sons, Kenneth (Tina) Kaul of Beaverton, Ore., and Robert (Deanna) Kaul of Havre; sistersin- law, Joan Kaul of Port Orchard, Wash., Leona Nelson of Hinsdale and Helena, Francine (Daniel) Jensen of Hinsdale, and Marge Elehardt of Lacey, Wash.; and brother-in-law, Albert (Wanda) Vandewiele; as well as six grandsons; 13 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, the new Holy Spirit Catholic High School or to the organization of the Donor's Choice. Arrangements by O'Conner Funeral Home.