Frederick "Rick" Holbrook

Frederick “Rick” Holbrook died on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, in his home from the effects of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). He was born August 9, 1940, in San Francisco, California, and left the hospital when he was three days old to begin life with his adoptive family, Katherine H. and Bradley K. Holbrook. He grew up in Berkeley, California, where he graduated from Berkeley High School in 1958. He earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Oregon in 1964 and served for a period in the Marine Corps Reserve.

He and Sandra Lynne Reay were married on June 11, 1966, in Ontario, Oregon, and they lived initially in Eugene, Oregon. Following the completion of his bachelor’s degree in agronomy at Oregon State University in 1968, they moved to Grandview, Washington, where he worked at the Washington State University Experiment Station in Prosser. Their two sons were born during their time in Washington State. In 1971, they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where Rick completed a master’s degree in agronomy at Colorado State University. His pursuit of a doctoral degree in agronomy brought the family to Fargo in 1973.

Rick’s interest in agronomy stemmed from his love of the outdoors, and that love was evident throughout his life both professionally and personally. Growing up he enjoyed camping, hiking and fishing with his family, and as a high school student worked during the summers as a cook on pack trips for the Sierra Club in the High Sierra. His interest and studies in agronomy and his later employment with the Fargo Park District continued to allow him to be outdoors. His greatest satisfaction during his employment with the Fargo Park District was his role in developing and maintaining the grass soccer fields at the Pepsi Soccer Complex. He retired in 2007.

He was an avid fisherman, a pastime that lasted throughout his life until ALS made it impossible. He loved his boat and enjoyed times fishing alone as well as times fishing with his sons and teaching his grandchildren how to fish. His favorite spot was Lake Sakakawea although he spent many hours fishing nearby Minnesota and South Dakota lakes as well. Over the past fifteen years or so he became an enthusiastic birder, “chasing” birds not only locally but on the North Shore of Lake Superior, in California and Arizona, and in Belize, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama. His birding highlight was in 2013 when he was part of a small group in Panama that saw a Slender-Billed Kite, a bird that had not been sighted there in the last 40 years.

In 2012 after some diligent effort, he discovered the names of his biological parents: Mary A. McKenzie and Henry I. Morehead. Although his birth mother had passed away by that time, his biological father (98) was still living. Rick was able to meet him in 2013 and maintained a connection through correspondence.

In September 2013 he was diagnosed with ALS. From that time until his death, he faced the devastation of the disease with courage and determination, adapting with grace to the many changes it created. He followed closely the latest research about ALS and worked in a number of ways to create greater awareness about the disease. He was deeply thankful for the local ALS support group and for the good services provided through his Sanford Home Care team.

Rick is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sandra, his sons Bradley (Carolin) and Martin (Tonya) and his four grandchildren, Ariel, Darius, Grace and Frederick Holbrook and his sister Jeannie Drury as well as several cousins and their families.

Rick was a long-time member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where he was active in many ministries and leadership positions. A Vigil Service with time for remembrances will be held Thursday evening, January 15, at St. Stephen’s. The Requiem Eucharist for Rick will be on Friday, January 16, also at St. Stephen’s. Burial of ashes will be in the St. Stephen’s Memorial Garden at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the MN/ND/SD Chapter of the ALSA or to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church are encouraged.