Howard E. Frerichs, 99, formerly of Ogallala, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2026 at Crown Point Assisted Living in Omaha.
Howard Frerichs was born February 13, 1927. He was born in the family farmhouse south of Ogallala, where he spent the majority of his life. In the fourth grade, he battled meningitis, traveling to Omaha by train packed in ice for treatment. He attended Ogallala High School where he played football. An injury kept him from serving in World War II, to his regret. After high school, he spent a brief period in Omaha, studying electronics. He returned to Ogallala when his mother Laura (Boehmer) Frerichs was sick. Not long after, he met the love of his life, a young schoolteacher, Ardith Alpert. They were wed in 1957.
Howard was a hard worker throughout his life. He worked with several area farmers as a young boy. While in Omaha, he worked for the Coca Cola bottling plant while attending school. In addition to farming with his father John, Howard worked as a pin setter at the bowling alley in Ogallala. He transitioned to taking over the family farm after his marriage while raising five children. Howard raised wheat, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, and other crops. He also ran a dairy for many years, selling milk to the cheese factory in Chappel and directly to families in the community. While farming, Howard also served as a rural mail carrier for nearly 40 years, starting as a substitute and had a full-time route in the 1980s. In addition, he worked at the TRW electronics plant and worked for a neighboring farmer. Retirement from farming was a gradual process for Howard, first selling the dairy and eventually renting the farmland. He continued to participate helping the renters – driving grain trucks, maintaining the irrigation system, and other tasks.
Howard and Ardith were active in the Lutheran church, rarely missing a Sunday. Howard served in Lutheran Layman’s League and the Aid Association for Lutherans, and supported Ardith who served in the LWML and various mission circles. The Frerichs children attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Ogallala. The family was involved in many of the area churches – attending Trinity Lutheran Church south of Ogallala for many years and transferred to St. Paul’s in later years. Church functions and layman service also overlapped with Zion Lutheran Church of Grant and St. John’s Lutheran Church south-east of Ogallala.
After 97 years in the Ogallala community, Howard relocated to assisted living in Omaha with Ardith to be closer to children and grandchildren. Howard passed peacefully in his sleep March 26, 2026.
Howard’s life reminds us of Mathew 25:21, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Howard is survived by his loving wife Ardith, his five children: Loren (Saundra) Frerichs, Lowell (Cindy) Frerichs, James (Shari) Frerichs, Rita (Todd) Hatfield, and Gene (Traci Walter) Frerichs. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Hayley Frerichs, Johnathan Frerichs, Kyle Frerichs, Rheinholdt Frerichs, Jacob Frerichs, Ethan Frerichs, Max Hatfield, Tug Hatfield and Tye Hatfield. He is survived by several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Laura, and his siblings Erwin Frerichs, Marilyn Olson, Donald Frerichs and Kenneth Frerichs.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Ogallala with Rev. Timothy Steele officiating.
Internment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Southwest of Ogallala.
Visitation will be Friday, April 3, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Memorials are established to Saint Paul's Lutheran School Online condolences may be left at www.drauckerfh.com Funeral will be live streamed and can be watched by going into www.drauckerfh.com and clicking the watch live button.
Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.