Dennis Clinton Frisbie, MD, while resting quietly at Green House for Living, gave up his battle with Parkinson's disease to be united with his Lord on Sunday, August 4th 2013.
Dennis was born February 24, 1932 to Jean (Howell) and Clinton Frisbie in Butte, MT. He had a sister Ellen (Johnson) who passed away in 2007, and a brother Alfred "Freddie" who died as a young child. Dennis' family was in mining, logging, and ranching. His childhood was spent mostly in the McAllister and Ennis Montana area, with two stints on a houseboat in Anchorage, Alaska. He graduated from Ennis High School in 1951 and spent a year cowboying on local ranches before serving in the Naval Air Corp 1952-1956.
He met Wilhelmine "Willie" Marquardt in 1954, and she became his lifetime dancing partner that October. Dennis and Willie joked that they could track their previous residences and his professional training by reviewing their children's places of birth. They had their first daughter before he was honorably discharged from the Navy at Pt. Mugu, California. They had their second daughter while he was in pre-med at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. They had their third daughter in Minneapolis while he attended the University of Minnesota Medical School. They finally had a son during Dennis' medical residency Sacramento, California. Their second son was born in Redmond, Oregon while Dennis was in family medical practice. Though they made the choice not to have more children, Dennis continued his professional journey, taking his family to Portland Oregon for his psychiatric residency. He once stated that he felt that he needed to help people with the psychological issues that were at the root of his patients' health problems.
In 1973 Dennis became the only Child and Family Psychiatrist in northern Wyoming when he moved his family to Sheridan. He worked with Northern Wyoming Mental Health until 1979 when he went into private practice; Medical Christian Therapy, with his focus on children and their families. This practice included working with the Sheridan County school systems, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, and he was instrumental in the startup and ongoing needs of Normative Services. He retired in 2007 only because Parkinson's disease was becoming too demanding.
Along with giving his family a strong legacy of deep personal faith in Jesus Christ, Dennis also taught his children and grandchildren the joys of horse riding, mountain hiking, camping, trout fishing, and hunting ethics.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and brother. He is survived by his wife, 5 children, 14 grand children, and 8 great grand children. Judy (Larry) Palmer of Lake Stevens, WA – Shannon (Paul), Jessica, and Kate. Patrice (George) Wolanin of Seattle, WA – Nathan, Luke (Michaela [Serena, Aveline, Jaiden] ), and Amy. Kathy (John) Barker of Ranchester ,WY – Josh (Emily [Alex, Evan, Haley, Brent]), and Kenny (Desiree [Geron]). Mike (Lisa) Frisbie of San Antonio, TX – Jacob, Zachary, and Macey. Matt ( Shari) Frisbie of River Falls, WI – Anne, Karina, and Elise.
Dennis' Celebration of Life memorial service will be officiated by Pastor Phil Wold at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheridan WY, on Friday August 9th at 11:00 AM followed by a luncheon reception. The inurnment of his ashes will be the afternoon of Saturday Aug 10th in the Frisbie Family plot in the McAllister Montana Cemetery. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or to the Sheridan County Senior Center, both of Sheridan WY.
This obituary was originally published in The Sheridan Press (Sheridan, WY).