The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Fred Dolven, 77 years old, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2017 in Reno, Nevada. His death was the result of a ten-year battle with Lewy Bodies Dementia and Parkinsonism.

Fred was born to Arnold and Mary Dolven on November 3, 1939 in Harlem, Montana. He attended University of Montana in Bozeman, where he graduated in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in architecture. Fred married Patricia Williams, his high school sweetheart, in 1961.

Fred and Pat lived briefly in Reno, Nevada in 1964 before serving in the Peace Corps from 1966-1968. They lived in the Orissa Providence. At the end of their term they traveled throughout the Middle East and Europe. Upon returning from India, they lived in Billings, MT, where their son, Davin, was born in 1969. The young family moved again to Reno in 1971 where they settled. Their daughter, Danica, was born in 1972. They raised their kids in the Huffaker Hills neighborhood of Reno. Fred coached youth soccer for both his children. He was an avid long distance runner who finished over 25 marathons; his favorite marathon was the Avenue of the Giants in the California Redwoods. The Dolvens were members of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Reno for many years before Fred and Pat became instrumental in planting the Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church in Sparks, Nevada.

Fred practiced architecture in Reno continuously for 44 years. A few notable projects include the Reno International Airport, the Nevada State Legislature remodel, and the Harrah's Automobile museum, and numerous other public and private projects all over Nevada and Northern California. Throughout his career Fred endeavored to achieve harmony between the artistic and technical ends of the architectural process.

Fred was an accomplished fine artist, talented in watercolor and pen and ink. He had two successful solo gallery shows. Drawing and painting were so important to Fred he practiced it nearly every day.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Dolven. Fred is survived by his son, Davin Dolven (Reno, NV), his daughter, Danica and her husband Marc Gittelman (San Francisco, CA), his two grandsons, Jacob and Elijah Gittelman, his sister Christine Wagner and family (Gardiner, MT), and a broad circle of family and friends.

A memorial service was be held on June 10, 2017 at 3:00 p.m., at Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church, 4884 Sparks Blvd.- Suite 102, Sparks, NV 89436. A graveside ceremony is being planned for late July near his wife and mother-in-law's resting places in Kalispell, Montana, to inter his remains. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

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