Donald Edward "Dude" Hendrickson, born August 20, 1927, Bismarck, ND, passed away on March 12, 2008
He was a resident of Napavine, Washington.
Dude is survived by his wife, Patty, sons Sandy, Jon, Howard, and daughter Franke, as well as numerous grand and great grandkids.
Dude was a journeyman painter and worked for Kenworth Truck Company for over 30 years.
He enjoyed his farm with his wife Patty. Dude restored several old tractors and other equipment for fun. Fishing local lakes and reading were his favorite pastimes.
<added 4-27-08>
Farewell to Dude Eulogy
First I want say THANK YOU to all who came out today to pay their final respects to a wonderful man, my husband, “Dude”
Most here don’t know how we met. It was over the Boat, motor, & trailer I had just bought and had taken over to show my dad. At the time Dude lived just across the street from my folks.
Dude, owning a boat of his own, wandered over to have a look. We talked about boats and fishing. A pastime I had enjoyed all the years I was growing up. As the conversation ended Dude said with a smile, “If you ever want to go for a ride in a REAL boat I will take you out in mine.”
As it happened my folks asked me to house sit for them a few weeks later. I walked over to Dude’s knocked on his door and told him I was ready to take him up on that boat ride. Needless to say the rest is history.
Fishing was a great part of our life together. The photos on display don’t make a dent in the 1000s of photos we looked over. Many miles were logged in local lakes or along streams. Good luck or bad, with company along or alone we enjoyed each outing.
Some have heard me call Don/Dude “Greek”. My private nickname came from the time early in our marriage when I was kitchen manager for a Greek restaurant owner. One of the long time employees was getting married, all the crew was invited. During the reception, Perry, one of the Greek cooks I worked with snagged Dude’s arm and pulled him over to the burning fireplace. Perry had been partaking of the champagne and feeling a bit homesick. He cried on Dude’s shoulder pointed to the flames and said I can see my village in the old country. Don’t you get lonesome for your old village? Well Dude went along and humored Perry not letting on he had zip for Greek blood. When we looked around at all the dark, suave, mustachioed real Greeks…….well Dude looked just as Greek. A nickname that began in jest stuck from then on.
Dude had a very sentimental side. He loved his children despite not having them around during much of their younger years. Dude was generous with his adult children giving several cars, tools, equipment and of course money. As a parent you always feel you need to help if your kids are in need. Over the years he kept most of the cards they sent him for Birthdays and Father’s days. His kids came up with some of the most unusual thoughtful gifts over the years.
As part of our goat business we traveled to conventions where Dude met folks from all over the US. We also made a few vacations out of my far off Judging jobs. Years later I would run into folks who only met Dude once or twice and they ALWAYS asked about how he was doing. People always liked and remembered Dude.
As you visit the displays around the room many will ‘see’ a Don/Dude they never knew before. You will notice a theme of always showing off the livestock to visitors. You will also notice this man was always busy. Dude was a man of many talents and had pride in his work
Today is not just a day to say goodbye. Today is a celebration of the life of a Man’s Man, devoted husband, loving father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, Beloved Brother and an all around good guy.
Mrs. Don E. –Patty—Hendrickson
added May 10, 2008 A poem written by Dude about his stay at the Nels Hokanson Ranch in Big Sandy MT. <paste>
He looked at me
An amused look on his face
I looked back at him
As my heart began to race.
Knowing I was a young
Punk kid from town,
Would he with good intent,
Turn my request down?
I told him I needed
No cash pay,
But to live like a cowboy
The old western way.
Finally he brushed back
His hat with his hand,
Smiled and said with humor
I could use another hand.
Happiness abounds as my
Dreams all came true,
To be a real cowboy
Part of the ranching crew.
Looking back now I realize
I picked the right man.
Someone with a heart so big
That he could understand.
In remembrance he never
Treated me as a kid,
When I did do right
He let me know I did.
He said it once, that was it,
To make me understand,
He took it for granted I could do the work,
As if I were a man.
The days flew by
Like birds in song,
As this fine old man
Guided me along.
Never yelling or hollering,
That wasn’t his style.
When you done wrong,
He gave a knowing smile.
Then proceeded to show me
The way it was done.
And as he did this
My heart he won.
We branded calves
And put up the hay.
The work crew sweated
Throughout the long day.
Still I think I got a good deal
As I labored each day,
The meals I got were worth
More than the pay.
My bunk house was a log cabin
With chair, table and bed,
I took pride in it as my cowboy home
That’s where I slept and read.
He showed me where to get coal
Along the banks of a creek,
And ice we got nearby,
In the summer was a real treat.
His wife, Bell, was a woman
Who was so sweet,
My heart she won with kindness
and every little treat.
My clothes she scrubbed by hand
Without a complaint,
Looking back I realize now
The woman was a saint.
On Saturday they let me
Use a tub,
I carried water to my bunk house
For my weekly scrub.
The old man gave me
A pretty little mare,
The only thing he said to me
Be sure and treat her fair.
That little horse he gave me
Never had a ride,
I broke her with kindness
And rode her with pride.
His small son named Arnold
He was just a kid,
But I envied his expertise
Of everything he did.
His horse and he were as one
As he road off to school,
With my riding ability made
Me feel like a fool.
All my life of memories
I can never erase
The gentleness and kindness
Of that old rancher’s face.
By Don "Dude" Hendrickson
<Added 5-18-08 content of handout at service held April 19th.>
How do you condense a lifespan of 80+ years into a few paragraphs? The best memories, the high and the low points of a long life would take another long life to recount. In the space allowed let me tell you about “Dude”.
Dude had many talents—he could build buildings, paint your truck, including a design, lay tile and fix most anything that could be repaired.
Dude was a hard worker at his long time job at Kenworth Truck Co. Friends from work came to visit at the farm. They would recount some hilarious tales from the ‘Kenworth years’.
As a teen, Dude, gave his mom many a gray hair. He just took off with a pal to bum around the country. Riding the rails and seeing the world had to be very exciting for a young man. Dude traveled many places now and then checking in with his mom who claimed him as her black sheep.
One of Dude’s stops was near Big Sandy, MT where he talked himself into a job on a cattle ranch. Little did the owner know how much the job meant to Dude or how it shaped his life later on. When WWII began Dude left the ranch going back to Seattle. Dude served in the Merchant Marine for several years with his ship hauling troops a time or two.
In the early 90’s we drove back to Big Sandy—Dude showed me the one room school he went to for a year. The ‘town’ still had some of the old buildings. We drove out the 25 miles to the ranch but didn’t just have the nerve to drive in. The last name on the mailbox was the same. When we got home Dude decided to write. This renewed the friendship begun as kids with the owner’s son, Arnold. We made two trips to visit after that. Always welcomed with a smile and great hospitality.
Dude had a very sentimental side. Early in our marriage he told me a lot about KT, the infant daughter who died. He showed me a tiny piece of cotton and two tiny pink roses sealed in a jar. The cotton he used to wipe KT’s mouth just before she was flown back to MN for an operation to fix her heart. The two roses were taken from the spray held in KT’s hands before her coffin was closed.
In every vehicle Dude drove he kept a beaded rabbit’s foot charm, made by Franke, and a Saint Christopher medallion affixed to the visor.
On a shelf by the table at home were a pair of ceramic worms. Dude had mailed them to his mom telling her he felt as low as these worms for causing her to worry about him. Mom returned them to her black sheep when we married.
Keepsakes that held special meanings for a special man now rest with his mortal remains.
My cherished memories are many. I thank God for our time together. Dude, don’t give up on me I’ll be then one day……Patty
ADDED Christmas day 2008
My good friend Pauline brought me this poem--given to her the first Christmas she was without her dad.
My first Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless Christmas Trees
around the world below
with tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars,
reflecting on the snow.
This sight is so Spectacular! Please
wipe away your tear.
I hear many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear.
But the music can’t compare with
the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you the joy
their voices bring.
For it is beyond description to hear
the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me. I
see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away. We really
aren’t apart.
So be happy for me loved ones.
you know I hold you dear.
Be glad I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift from
my Heavenly home above.
I send you each a memory of my
undying love.
After all “Love” is that gift more
precious than gold.
It was always most important in
the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other as
my Father said to do,
for I can’t count the blessings
or love he has for you.
So have a Merry Christmas and
wipe away that tear.
Remember I’m spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.