Bernard "Ben" Frerichs

Bernard “Ben” Henry Frerichs, 77, of Western Washington, passed Thursday, February 8, 2018 in Everett, WA. He was born January 25, 1941 in St. Louis, MO to Bernard Edwin and Dorothy “Dot” (Schindler) Frerichs.



Ben grew up in St. Louis, attended Catholics Schools for his primary and secondary education. graduating from Bishop Duboug High School in 1958. In 1962 he earned a BA in Economics from Benedictine University in Atchison, KS, and a master’s degree from St. Louis University. Ben went on to earn a second Master of Arts in Economics Degree and a PhD in economics from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Ben was always a proud Cougar.



As a young man while in school he worked on the Admiral Riverboat on the Mississippi, Ben was a history teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in St. Louis, MO; a professor at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He later moved to Tacoma and was a community development director for the City of Tacoma. As an Economic Consultant, his career included four decades with urban and economic planning and development services throughout the West Coast and for cities, counties and states in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, Ben was a consultant for FEMA in Louisiana, after Katrina, in Joplin, Missouri after the tornados, and Iowa post-flood, to develop long-term plans for economic development. Ben’s company Economic Consulting Services was involved in many consulting engagements for companies and organizations in the private sector.



While Ben was in Pullman the most important joyful life changing event happened. Ben adopted his son Daniel. They embarked on a journey to Bellingham and later to Tacoma. He was a single parent and he raised Dan on his own.



Ben loved Christmas and for years he shared his Christmas spirit as Santa for family and friends. Ben was a charmer and a bit of a flirt, people loved him, he was great with people and larger than life, the life of the party. It is hard to imagine a world without him.

He loved people, writing and walking on the beach. His greatest joy was his son Dan, and granddaughter Mary Ellen and the loving family Dan, Mary Beth and Mary Ellen shared.

He was preceded in death by his parents.



Survivors include his son Dan; daughter-in-law Mary Beth Siewert; granddaughter Mary Ellen Frerichs all of Bozeman, MT; his sister Ruth Frerichs Hasser of St. Louis, MO; 4 nieces Tracey (Jodie Eaton) Hasser, Trisha (Jim) Koetting, Tina (Rod) Harris and Lynn (Tony Patrick) Hasser, and nephew Chris Hasser; 8 great nieces and nephews; aunt Irene Frerichs Fitzgerald, his longtime special friend Gail Dykstra; many friends in Seattle, Bellingham, St. Louis and across the country; the Gang of ’62 from Ben’s college days; as well as his years of working with colleagues in urban planning and economic consulting.



A Celebration of Ben’s life will be held 2:00 PM – 4PM, Sunday, February 18, 2018 at the Legion Hall, 145 Alverson Blvd, Everett, WA, 98203



Memorials may be made in his name to Benedictine University, Office of Advancement, 1020 North Second Street, Atchison, KS 66002-1499