From the Big Timber "Pioneer" May 23-29, 2003:

Theodore (Ted) Fichtner passed way at his home in The Vista at Mission Ridge Thursday morning, May 15, 2003.

Ted was born in Turtle Lake, North Dakota on August 12, 1912 to Henry and Katherine Fichtner. When he was eight, the family moved to Rapelje, and in 1926, they moved to a farm south of Laurel.

He was confirmed in the First Congregational Church in Laurel in 1928 and remained a member of that church for the majority of his life.

On November 14, 1934, he married Lydia Frank of Laurel.

In 1935 he was emplyed by Collison & Dolven Road Construction, and in the winter of 1936 was involved with the construction of the Laurel River Bridge...

He decided to open up his own mechanic business at their home at 112 3rd Ave. in a small garage that he built, with room for only one car and a workbench. Business became so good that he needed to move into a larger facility, so he rented the building that is now known as the Palace Lanes.

In 1952, Ted was approached by General Motors to become a Chevrolet Dealer in Bridger. He operated his dealership out of the back of a lumberyard in Bridger for a short time. In 1954, he purchased and operated a Conoco service station out of which they sold Chevrolet automobiles and trucks. In 1961, he sold the dealership to his son, Leonard, and moved to Big Timber, where he bought another dealership formerly known as Bouse Chevrolet... In 1978, Ted sold the T&L Chevrolet dealership to his son, Dennis...

Ted was preceded in death by his four brothers: Ben, John, Emil, and Fred Fichtner; and five sisters, Amelia Gjefle, Louise Schreiner, Christine Traver, Carrie Fichtner and Alma Marple.

He is survived by his wife, Lydia in St. John's Lutheran HOme in Billings; sons, Leonard (Jeanne) and Dennis (Rose); six grandchildren: Ken Fichtner (Sari), Kala Aguado (Cory), Kelly Klein (Todd), Mardi Hagar (Shane), Kevin Fichtner (Caryn) and Keith Fichtner (Lynda); great grandchildren, Matthew Fichtner, Madison Fichtner, Skyler Aguado, Kortney Klein, Tanner Klein, Taylor Hagar, and Riley Hagar; and sisters, Dorothy Strauch, Ruth Bosch, and Alvina Rasmusson.

Funeral services were held at Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 with burial in the Laurel Cemeter. Should friends or family desire, memorials are suggested to the Billings Al Bedoo Shriners Transportation Trust Fund or St. John's Lutheran Ministeries.