Mostly Clear, 66° F
(May 24, 2007)
Fredrick Earl Laing died at his home in Powell on Thursday, May 24 of congestive heart failure. He was 85.
He was born Sept. 29, 1921, in Broadwater, Nebr., to John A. and Margaret Colgrove Laing and was the fifth of 11 children. The family moved to Lovell in the 1940's. He joined the army at age 17 and served six years, primarily in the Philippines during World War II.
He attended Billings Business College and Photo Arts College in Dallas, Texas. He married Evelyn Louise Clyde of Hamilton, Mont., in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on March 24, 1955, and they raised seven children.
In 1959 he purchased the Lucier Studio in Powell and opened Laing Studio. Through the years, he took professional portraits, wedding, family and school pictures throughout the Big Horn Basin and southern Montana. As a Master Photographer, he won national and regional awards. His passions included hunting, fishing and collecting.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn Louise Laing; two sons: Guy (Tamara) of Roy, Utah and Robin of Mesquite, Nev.; five daughters: Margo (John) Wilson of Mesa, Ariz., Ginger (Zane) Fross of Lost Cabin, Tracy (Ralph) Decker of Orem, Utah, Winona (Alpine) Gibson of Washington, Utah, and Jill of Orem, Utah; four siblings, Bill (Grace) Laing of Bountiful, Utah, Dorothy Morris of Delta, Utah, June Landess of Casper and Joyce (John) Hinrichs of Ogden, Utah; 27 grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Friday, June 1 at Thompson Funeral Home from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and again Saturday, June 2 one hour before funeral services at 10 a.m. at the LDS Church on Avenue E in Powell.
For those who wish, the family would appreciate donations to Powell Valley Hospice, in care of Powell Valley Health Care, 777 Avenue H, Powell, WY 82435.
