Lou Mae Fricke, a longtime Hermiston resident, died on June 29, 2017 in Hermiston at the age of 81.
She was born on April 9, 1936 in Nassau, Minn. to Herman and Sorena Ehlebacht Block.
She moved to San Jose, Calif. in her early 20s, where she worked for Hewlett Packard. She was dating her boss, Carl J. Fricke, whom she married in May 1961 so she could become the boss. The couple relocated to Hermiston in 1967, where she had resided since.
Lou enjoyed gardening, trips to the ocean to go crabbing, hunting, yard sales and going to the family cabin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl in 2014; a son, Joel; brothers, Jimmy and Potts; and sisters, Joey and Joani.
She is survived by sons, Mark (Diane) Fricke and Ken (Mary) Fricke of Hermiston; daughter-in-law, Debra Fricke of Hermiston; grandchildren, Kevin, Brian, Jarod and Jessica; and great grandchildren, Madison, Gage, Conner, Ava, Cienna and Liam.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Hermiston Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial donations to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 1050 W. Elm Ave., Suite 220, Hermiston, 97838.
To send an online condolence to the family, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
