Fred S Collins

Fred Collins was born April 13, 1921, in Roundup, MT to G. Stanley and Beatrice Notley Collins. He was raised in Arvada with siblings Jack and Dorothe. After his mother’s death in 1927, Fred spent some time in Laramie attending school at Cathedral Homes. His dad got a job in Edgar, where Fred graduated from high school. In 1941 he joined the Army Air Corps. In his life story he called Under My Own Fig Tree, he tells of a pending suicide mission trip when he realized the military could not save him. With his limited primitive theology, he asked God to save him and get him back from this flight. And in return he promised to go to church every Sunday for the rest of his life. God answered his prayer when the mission was aborted and he was sent home. He realized God had saved him! He was honorably discharged in 1945.
He returned to Edgar and was best man at his dad’s wedding to Doris in 1944. He gained two siblings, Burl and Joan. He kept his promise to God to be in church every Sunday but it was during a week-long revival meeting where he finally accepted Christ as his savior.
He entered Rocky Mountain College in 1948. It was during his college years he answered God’s call into full time ministry. He attended Asbury Seminary and fulfilled a need to serve the Methodist church in Drummond. During this assignment he went to Supply Pastor’s School in California where he met Mary Gruenewald. After a brief courtship, they were married in June 1956. They served side by side in Methodist churches in Wibaux, Highwood, Winnett- Grass Range, Whitehall-Boulder. He attended graduate school in Nashville, TN and then was assigned to Scobey- Redstone- Plentywood, Missoula Grace UMC, Libby, Dutton- Brady. After 33 years in the ministry, Fred retired in 1986.
Fred and Mary retired to Great Falls. During retirement, Fred and Mary both wrote autobiographies. Fred also wrote several short stories. They enjoyed traveling throughout the US. When Mary’s health started to fail, they moved to Missoula in 2010 to be near their daughter Ruth. His beloved wife died Nov. 15, 2014. Fred continued to reside at the Missoula Manor until his death on January 14, 2019.
Fred is survived by his daughters Ruth (Richard) Johnson, and children Rachel, Russell (Jenna) and Ryan; Lois (Steven) Droegemeier, and children Sarah and Eric; two sisters Dorothe Fisher and Jo Mitchell.
Memorials may be sent to Intermountain 500 Lamborn St Helena, MT 59601