Fred L. Ford, 67, of Bowman, ND, passed away in Bismarck, ND, at the Sanford Medical Center of Friday, February 21, 2020.

Memorial Services for Fred will be on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at  2:00 p.m. at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel in Bowman.

Frederick Lee Ford III was born August 11, 1952 in Lafayette, Indiana to Frederick and Marijane Ford. His family lived in Indiana and later moved to Oak Park, Illinois, where Fred would later graduate high school. After high school Fred attended Perdue University where he received degrees in Mathematics and Athletics.

Fred, being the free spirit that he was, after college set out on an adventure. He originally had intended for an arrival in Arizona, but as fate would have it landed in the great state of North Dakota.

Fred worked as a seismographer, oilfield derrick hand, and then caught a job on a bridge crew building the west bridge of Marmarth, ND, which as luck would have it brought him to meet his true love and lifelong partner, Sheryll.

Fred and Sheryll lived together in SW North Dakota where they raised their five children: Michael, Jennifer, Joseph, Tabitha and LaTrishia.

Fred enjoyed life to the fullest and maybe even a little more. Many a weekend you would see them out camping or fishing. Fred loved his Harley Davidson and loved to ride. He would always work hard and play even harder. He enjoyed their yearly camping trips to Shadehill for the 4th of July.

Later in life he settled in Bowman and went to work at Cashway Building where he worked until retiring in 2015. After retiring, Papa Fred enjoyed spending as much time as he could with his many grandchildren, teaching them all of Papa's rules.

Fred is survived by his wife Sheryll of Bowman, ND; his children: Michael (Jennifer) Cummins of Miles City, MT; Fred (Deb) Zimm of Middletown, DE; Jennifer (Todd) Gonser of Dickinson, ND; Joseph (Rebecca) Cummins of Bowman ND; Tabitha Cummins of Lemmon, SD; LaTrishia (Derek) Kimes of Benton, AR; and a total of 17 grandchildren of which 3 are girls and 14 are boys; and two great-grandchildren.

Fred was preceded in death by both of his parents; his younger brother Rick Ford; and grandson Dylen Ollila.