Frederick Baldwin Burnham was born October 9, 1931 in Oxnard, California to John and Constance Burnham. He was the youngest of four boys. The family moved to North Hollywood when Fred was seven, and shortly after to South Pasadena where he attended Marengo, SPJHS, and graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School. College years were spent at Pomona, the Coast Guard Academy, and UCLA where he participated in ROTC and majored in Business Administration. 

Following college, Fred entered the US Army as a Second Lieutenant, beginning at Ft Benning, Georgia and then Korea for sixteen months. In 1957 Fred married Laurie Cook (SPHS '52). He was employed by Aerophysics Development Corporation in Santa Barbara and their firstborn, Billy was born in 1959. The family then moved to Mountain View, California for Fred's new employment as a Contract Administration with Stanford Research Institute. Steven was born at home in 1960. In 1962 the family moved to Hamilton, Montana and daughter Barbara was born in 1964. The family was complete, other than the many dogs and kitties added over the years.

In Hamilton, Fred worked his logging business for years, and decided to look for other opportunities. He taught himself how to repair televisions and opened a television business out of a shop at home. He also responded to house calls to repair the televisions. In 1972, Fred purchased land that had a gas station on the south portion and a junk yard with two old houses on the north end. He cleaned up the north end and named the business the North Side Center. He expanded the gas station building, adding a television display floor, het planning for the future by putting lube bays under the carpeting. When Fred exited the television business, the carpet was lifted and an auto mechanic and tire shop was made ready. The North Side Center evolved and changed through the years and was home to games, sub sandwiches, a restaurant, car wash and Richland Ice Cream (Fred had always wanted to make ice cream and his signature blend was delicious). Fred operated his business for 40 years with self-discipline, focus, and determination.

During his years in Hamilton, he enjoyed many activities:  elk and antelope hunting, square dancing, backpacking, biking (he bike toured New Zealand in the mid-80s), boating, piloting his Cessna 210 turbo, singing at church and with the Bitter Root Valley Chorus for 40 years. In his later years he found great joy with his church and at his cabin he built in his mountain property, lovingly called Burnham Wood.

Fred loved God, his family, Burnham Wood, and his dogs with all his heart. His passing was peaceful and he was surrounded by love, behind him here and embracing him there. He will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his beloved brothers, Bill (SPHS '39), John, and David (SPHS '43). He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Laurie; children Bill, Steve (Katrina), and Barbara (Champ); and seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Ravalli Republic, September 3, 2017