Paul Fredrikson
July 29, 1949 ~ October 16, 2017
Our beloved husband, father, “papa,” brother, and uncle, Dr. Paul Allen Fredrikson, 68, was surrounded by love and prayers when he went to be with his Lord on Monday, October 16th, 2017, in Fargo, North Dakota.
Paul was born on July 29, 1949, in Fargo, ND, to Clark and Esther Fredrikson. He was raised in Davenport, ND, and graduated as class valedictorian from Davenport High School in 1967. He then pursued an undergraduate degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and attended dental school at the University of Minnesota. During this time, he met the love of his life and best friend, Christine Ruth. They were married in St. Paul, MN, on June 30, 1973. In 1974, he graduated from dental school a semester early and accepted a position to teach at the University of Minnesota. After a year, he moved back to Fargo and worked as an associate dentist with Dr. Bergstrom, a skilled and progressive dentist who mentored him. In 1979, he envisioned and started what is now known as Smile Care.
Smile Care, his team members, and his patients were very dear to his heart. He considered dentistry a ministry from God and his life’s calling, and he touched countless lives as a result. He was known for his gentle and kind manner, integrity, state-of-the-art care, funny jokes, and comforting prayers before dental procedures.
In 2001, Dr. Paul received a “Commitment to Excellence” award from the Heartland Study Club, of which he was an active member for many years. In 2013, he received the “America’s Best Dentists” award from the National Consumer Advisory Council. Throughout his years in dentistry, he was a member of various dental associations and study groups.
One of the greatest joys of his life was his adventuring with his wife, Chris. Their relationship was loving and close, and they approached life as an inseparable team. Raising his two beautiful daughters, Bethany and Sarah, gaining sons in their husbands, Shawn and Ken, and spending time with his grandkids were also some of his greatest joys. His nephew, Matthew, was a son to him.
Dr. Paul was an elder and spiritual father to many at his church, Believers Fellowship, in Moorhead, MN, and beyond. Even in the midst of trial, he believed he lived a very blessed life and was blessed to be a blessing to others. He loved spending time with his family, grandkids and friends, practicing dentistry, boating, skiing and teaching others to ski, serving at his local church, and reading dental magazines.
He will be remembered by his wife of 44 years, Christine (Schatz) Fredrikson; his daughter Bethany (Fredrikson) Henderson and her husband, Shawn Henderson; his daughter, Sarah (Fredrikson) Anderson and her husband, Ken Anderson; his five very special grandchildren: Aubri, Nia, Oliver, Noah, and baby boy Anderson (December 2017); his sisters-in-love, Elizabeth Schatz and Vicki Fredrikson; his nephew, Matt Fredrikson and his fiancee, Marta Abad Perez. There are countless other cousins and extended family members who were dear to his heart. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark and Esther Fredrikson, and his brother, Tom Fredrikson.
We are grateful for your love, support, and friendship. A celebration service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 21, at Believers Fellowship Church in Moorhead, MN. The service will be followed by a visitation and reception from 2:30-4:30pm.
We respectfully request that donations be made to your local church, your favorite missions organization, or the Tom Fredrikson Memorial Scholarship at Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) in lieu of flowers.
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Peter, I was so sorry to read about Paul. Thinking of you and prayers for you and his family too. Elaine and Bob
We are so sorry for your loss. Dr Paul was a good man who took excellent care of his patients. He has taken care of both of our mothers, our daughters as well as Dean and I for over 35 years. We will miss him very much. God Bless.
I was privileged to know Paul in a variety of ways. I first met Paul as a fellow business person in a nearby suite. Sometimes a chat with his patients in the bathroom revealed much about how his faith in God was his deep morale compass. He watched every penny…and even paid to use my copier occasionally as he just didn’t have enough usage to justify that expense for his office. It probably was just an excuse to come chat and see how I was doing.
Turns out his daughter and my son were in the same class. He invited us to his church and we met some of the Believers in Believers Fellowship. Seems they needed some technical support from my techie son. It was very good to connect with these people.
Then, I walked into his office and wrote a chunk of a check for Paul to give my teeth a much needed upgrade. I was so impressed with his state of the art technology and decided his skills were worth every penny.
Paul was not a social worker in his business. He charged for his expertise and only offered those services to those who could pay. But for those who could pay, Paul was a witness to all of his faith in Jesus.
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Paul raised the bar of standards for those around him. I know. His life affected me and my son. For that I am forever grateful.
May God Bless your memories and give you comfort as you continue on your own journeys. Raise the standards high. Keep being a witness. Live well.
Paul was my dentist for over 30 years and he was always very professional yet friendly. He would always take the time to explain what procedure he was going to do and he did it very well. I’m saddened to learn of his passing and will miss him.
I have been an employee at Patterson Dental for 23 years and had the privilege of working with Paul on many different occasions during this time. He was one of the nicest and kindest person that I have ever known and he will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of his family and friends.
Our deepest sympathy to Dr. Paul’s family and the Smile Care team.
Dr. Paul has been my family’s dentist for years, possibility from the start of his practice. One of my first memories was that he would say a prayer openly before he started the procedure I needed, I was maybe 10, this simple act provided comfort and stuck with me over the many years. When I got married, Dr. Paul became my husband’s dentist and as our family grew he was my children’s dentist. As our children grew up and had different procedures done, Dr. Paul would always call after hours or on the weekend to make sure everything going well. Dr. Paul was always the utmost professional and he was always had time to discuss concerns.
Dr. Paul will be missed. His family, friends and SmileCare team will be included in our prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers will be lifted for Dr. Paul’s
Our sincere sympathy to Chris and all the family of Dr. Paul. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We were so blessed to have this faithful man of God as our family dentist.
I was close to the Fredrikson’s when I lived in Fargo Moorhead and attended Believer’s Fellowship Church. I am so saddened to hear the news of Paul’s passing and my thoughts and prayers are with Chris and the family.
Paul & I were in the same Dental school class at Minnesota. I had not kept abreast of his illness, as I have been retired the past 4 years. Paul had a deep faith, which was noticed in the prayers he offered before various Dental meetings.
To Chris and family,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss and our God and Saviors enlightenment. Dr. Paul was a very wonderful man and employer. He certainly will be missed. He was an inspiration to me in so many ways. God’s blessings to you and to everyone that had a chance to have this gentle person’s presence in their lives.
Love much,
Tami Ostby
Oh Chris-I am sorry to hear of Dr Paul’s passing. I pray for his safe and peaceful continued journey onward.
From first meeting you two in the satellite Dental office in Lidgerwood and getting hired to clean the office space and wash towels at night to some dental assisting in the summer to a few years later getting hired in your Fargo office as a new wet behind the ears hygienist. 😉 the 2 of you had been an important part of my younger years.
I probably learned more from you both than you will ever know. But i was always listening to your teaching and learning about many many things.
Chris-you even drove me to the oral surgeon to have my wisdon teeth out when i didn’t have family to help with that. And yours and Paul’s Office Christmas Parties at your home were very special. I only met Sarah and Grace a couple of times when one was in a baby carrier on Paul and you had yours other daughter on you and you would be out together walking the neighborhood. You’d once stopped to tell me that teaching anything and everything to children was something to do 24 hours a day because children are like a sponge. I still think of that now as i talk and talk to my own grandkids about anything from honeybees to world peace.
So sorry for you loss too soon. I know Dr Paul will be missed by so very many. God’s Blessings to you all.
Dr. Paul was a dear and beloved friend. We have never met a kinder more faithful man. You will be greatly missed in this life but we look forward to reuniting in Heaven.
My deepest sympathy to the family of Paul Fredrickson.
Dear Elizabeth, Chris and family. I only knew Paul through my wonderful friend Elizabeth. I feel by reading this obituary and by the many conversations over the years with Elizabeth that I too have lost someone very special. God gives so many wonderful people to this world. Those with love, compassion, special gifts, etc. that truly make a difference. I will be looking for this beautiful person when God takes me to heaven. “What a day of rejoicing there will be when we all see Jesus and sing and shout the victory.” RIP Paul
Sorry to hear about Paul’s passing! We grew up in Davenport ND, and on Pelican Lake, had great times together, playing Basketball, baseball, and swimming and skiing! He was a great friend in our early years! RIP Paul
We are so sorry to hear of Paul’s passing. He was such a great man of God & a wonderful neighbor! We are sorry we will not be able to attend his celebration of life as we are in AZ. Our thoughts & prayers are with all of you! Sending hugs and love your way! Pray God’s peace & comfort in your time of sorrow!
Our deepest sympathy,
Tim, Gwen & Taylor Watson
My sincere and heartfelt sympathy to Chris and family…Dr Paul was an amazing man that will be missed by many both personally and professionally. RIP
Rick and Micki Antoine
Our prayers for Dr. Paul’s family and staff. Dr. Paul served our entire family at Smilecare for the past 20 years. He was a man of faith and integrity who utilized the highest standards of professionalism in his work every day. God bless his memory, the Kallod family
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of Dr. Paul. He was my dentist for a number of years when I lived in Fargo and he was always very kind and compassionate. I still remember the times when he would call me at night after a procedure just to make sure I was feeling ok. He was a very compassionate doctor. My condolences to his family and friends.
Dr. Paul:
You have been such a great dentist and friend to our family. I have trusted you with our family and all the friends I have referred to you. Why because you were and are the best. Your staff you have are the best. I thank you for all the prayers before my root canals. I didn’t feel a thing. You will be missed dearly. I know you are in a great place. Prayers to your family and thank you Dr Paul. The Vetsch Family
Chris and family:
Mary, Katherine, Christopher, Emily, and I were deeply saddened to learn of Paul’s death. He was a good man, a loving husband and father, a doting grandfather, and a friend to all who met him. Paul led an exemplary life of giving and caring, in both his dental practice and his community. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched. I hope you know that all who knew Paul and his close-knit and loving family share your burden of loss.
Like Katherine, Chris, and Emily, I am out of the country and regret I cannot join Mary in being with you to help celebrate Paul’s life at Saturday’s service, but please know that all of us will be thinking of Paul, everyone in his family, and the many happy memories we have of time together at the lake and elsewhere.
Ambassador (retired) Ken Brill
We are so very sorry for your loss. Your family is in our prayers throughout this difficult time. Wishing you peace. Warmly, The Wallaces
I stopped by the house to give my regards, and was greeted with love and peace that only God can provide. Instead of praying for the family, Christine took my hand and prayed a blessing over my life. It brought tears to my eyes… despite the sadness and grief the family is going through, they live the faith that Dr. Paul also lived and taught to many others. Dr. Paul was one of the people God sent to my Father-In-Laws house to pray for him when he was dying of cancer back in 1981, before I met my wife. I never forgot the the impact that made on the family back then. We never know the time of our death, but Dr. Paul lived his life as every day was his last. I only hope I can have that impact in this world. My prayers will continue to go up for his wonderful family. God bless all of you.
I am very saddened to read about Dr. Paul’s passing, he was a very unique individual and special to many. I would like to extend some words of comfort to the family, The Bible assures us in Psalms 34:18 that “Jehovah is close to the broken hearted”. Yes just like Dr. Paul let his patience know they were not alone, you all are not alone during this very difficult time. God will continue to strengthen you all as you continue to seek for his guidence. I will include your family in my prayers.
So sorry to hear of Paul’s passing. I have many fond memories of the years we attended school and Sunday school in Davenport. I know he will be missed by his family and many other people for his ministry work as well as his loving outlook on life.
Hello Chris and Families,
I was saddened to hear of the loss of Paul. Our thoughts and prayers with you all.
Barbara Werre