November 23, 1923 - December 2, 2019
“Fritzie” passed from this life nine days after his 96th birthday. He was born in Sacramento, California, to Frederick Charles and Louise Rose Marty Buckingham.
He and older sister, Josephine, spent their childhoods on the original pioneer family ranch in Paradise Valley, Nevada.
Fritzie’s love of animals began with his chores of milking the cows, feeding the chickens, and working with the horses.
He was very involved in Humboldt County 4-H where he showed his prize-winning purebred Herefords.
At age 14 he engaged in his livestock breeding enterprise with only $22 of borrowed money. He had the goal of bringing better breeding stock to Nevada ranchers.
He traveled to San Francisco, Carson City and Reno selling and showing his top prized baby beef.
Fritzie ranched until 1944 when the U.S. Army had other plans. He served two years in the Pacific stationed in Cebu City, Philippines, as a mechanic. This training would serve him well in his farming and ranching career.
He returned home to Paradise Valley and purchased the Fort Scott Ranch on Cottonwood Creek. Here, he and wife, Sally Oliver, raised their family. The fishing was good and so were the friendships.
He later moved across Hinkey Summit Road, purchasing the Bar X Ranch with son and partner Bob, where he worked into his 90’s.
He especially enjoyed irrigating the meadows and baling hay. He was the first rancher in the valley to use a hay baler rather than putting up hay by hand with a hay rake and derrick.
Everyone knew how much Fred loved his dogs and how loyal they were to him. He called them his cowboys, as they were with him herding cattle, irrigating, and later in life walking down to the creek with him to see how the water was running. It was not unusual for a passerby to see him in his ranch pickup with all his dogs, either sitting beside him in the cab or lined up in the back watching for jack rabbits.
Grampa was preceded in death by infant son, Daniel. He is survived by daughter Diana Lasa and her family: Angela Lasa and Bob Crenshaw, Hank and Troy; Ray and Jessica Lasa, Dominic, Anthony, Maryanna; Erin Lasa, Raymond, Juan, Isabella; son Bob and Kathy Buckingham and their family: Alison and Brandon Kobayashi, Eli, Emi, Ari; Ashley Buckingham, BobiRose; sister, Josephine Dickinson (100 years young), brother Kenneth and nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of Harmony Manor for their compassionate care of Dad for the past three years. Respecting his wishes, there will be no services. To remember Fritzie, give your dog a loving pat on the head.
