Frederick Doyle Nelson

DARBY - Frederick Doyle Nelson 64 of Darby passed away August 1, 2020 of cancer at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born October 10, 1955 in Montpelier, Idaho, the son of the late Harold Nelson and Ethel Buhler. Fred was a large baby and as he grew older, he also grew taller and bigger. Fred moved with his family to Montana as a youngster where he had adventures with his siblings, and friends and learned to work hard.  There was always a garden to weed, wood to get in and animals to take care of. He learned his love of the outdoors by going with his dad and grandpa to get wood and hunt.

Fred went to school in Darby and in high school his sport of choice was wrestling where he wrestled Heavy Weight.  His dad loved to watch his boys wrestle, but no one wanted to sit too close to him because he would grab whoever was near and start to turn them into a pretzel. He was as much entertainment as the wrestlers.  At one of the tournaments Fred was in, he was dropped on his neck by his opponent and broke his neck.  That was one-time Harold drove faster than Ethel to Hamilton. Fred went on to wrestle the next year even though our hearts were always in our throats when he did.

At a young age Fred married Vickie Ray and to this union their son Cory was born. They later divorced.  After a time, Fred fell in love with Arlene and they married, making him an instant dad to Andy and Frances.

Fred started his logging career working for Donnie Wanstrath but after a while decided to try a career change and moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho to learn upholstery from his uncle.  This was a short-lived venture because the woods were calling, and he had to go back to Montana.  Donnie welcomed him with open arms, and they continued, not missing a beat.  He and Donnie worked together for several years until he started working for Champion International.  After working for Champion for a few years he decided the easiest way to get along with the boss was to be the boss, so he severed ties with them and started out on his own.  His brothers Lynn and Brad joined him and later his son Cory.  They worked gyppo for a while then started bidding their own sales.  Fred’s logging career took him to Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona and all over Montana. Fred was building a log home with logs he and Lynn had harvested themselves from the East Fork but was never able to finish it.  They were logging in the Big Hole when he was diagnosed with cancer and he passed away before he could get back into the woods.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years Arlene, his sons Cory (Laura), Andy and his daughter Frances.  His granddaughter Kiah came home to help Arlene care for him as his cancer progressed. He is also survived by his mother Ethel and stepfather Cliff Buhler, and stepmother Sue Nelson, sister Raylene Smith, brothers Lynn (Renae), Brad (Linda), and sister Chris (Dale) Petersen and stepsister Ronnie (David) Ringel.  He also has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren surviving as well and many adoring nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.   He was preceded in death by his father Harold Nelson, paternal grandparents Doyle and Maida Nelson, maternal grandparents Fred and Ivy Price, uncles, and cousins.

Fred was a gentle giant and mentored many who wanted to learn the logging business.  He loved his family very much and his family loves him. A huge hole is left in all our hearts with him gone.

A  viewing will be held Sunday, August 9, 2020  from 12-1:45 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton, Montana.  A luncheon will be served at the Darby Clubhouse after interment at the Lone Pine Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to Daly-Leach Chapel. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.dalyleachchapel.com

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