Rev. Raymond Fredrick Friberg passed away in Vancouver, Washington March 25, 2010. Raymond was the son of Fred and Alta (Mack) Friberg. He was born in Westby, Montana and lived in the Westby-Plentywood, Montana area until his senior year in high school when his family moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It was there that he met and fell in love with Hazel Bittleston who introduced him to Jesus Christ, the One who dramatically changed the direction of his life. Following their graduation from Coeur d'Alene High School, Raymond followed Hazel to Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. It was there that he answered God's call to ministry and married his sweetheart June 6, 1942. Following graduation in 1944 from Northwest Nazarene College, Raymond began his pastoral ministry serving Churches of the Nazarene in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Chinook and Fairview, Montana; Riverton, Wyoming; Great Falls, Montana; Kirkland and Bellevue, Washington, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, and Tacoma and Maple Valley, Washington. Along with his family in 1961, Raymond founded the Bellevue Church of the Nazarene as a Home Mission Church. During his retirement years, he served on staff for 18 years at the Mountain View Church of the Nazarene in Tumwater, WA. In 2008, he was endorsed by the Church of the Nazarene as a nursing home chaplain, a ministry he took seriously during the last years of his life.

Raymond enjoyed the great out-of-doors-camping, hiking, canoeing, and picking berries. He is also remembered for always having a car project close by-restoring many old Mercedes Benz. However, most dear to his heart was the love he had for his Lord and Savior, his family, and for the many dear friends he made during his 65 years of ministry.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of 65 years, Hazel Friberg, and his brothers and sisters, Clifford, Vera, Glenn, and Gladys. He is survived by his five children and their spouses Hugh (Evelyn) of Nampa, Idaho, Theron (Scherlie) of Bakersfield, California, Jan (Ben) Bunn of Dayton, Oregon, Merv (Linda) of Vancouver, Washington, and Ken (Connie) of Caldwell, Idaho, 19 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Mountain View Church of the Nazarene Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. A public viewing will be held at Mills & Mills Funeral Home Friday, April 2nd from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jesus Film Project in care of Mountain View Church of the Nazarene, 940 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. Please share tributes and special memories of Raymond at www.millsandmillsfunerals.com.