* Bernard Fredrickson; Construction Contractor

Bernard “Barney” Vernon Fredrickson, construction contractor, died last Friday. He was 78.

Fredrickson was born Feb. 28, 1921, in Stockton, where he attended school and graduated from high school. After graduation, he went on to the College of the Pacific.

In 1942, he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in civil engineering. On Nov. 26 that year, he married Kathryn Irish of San Jose.

He began his career working for a firm started by his father and uncle in the 1930s, Fredrickson & Watson. He managed the construction of many miles of the California freeway system through Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and various desert counties.

He moved his family to Ventura in 1954, closer to the areas where he was working.

From 1969 until his retirement in 1986, Fredrickson worked for Granite Construction Co. He was the southwest regional manager for heavy construction. Some of the projects he managed included the Van Norman Reservoir in Los Angeles County, Lerdo Bridge near Fallbrook and the Alamo Power Plant between Los Angeles and Bakersfield.

Fredrickson was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Assn. of General Contractors and the Jonathon Club of Los Angeles.

An avid golfer, he was a member of the Saticoy Country Club since 1959. He also enjoyed riding his horses, woodworking and fly fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathryn; daughters Karen Riffel of Ventura, Janet Araujo of Yorba Linda; son Bob Fredrickson of Ventura; sister Marget Lindberg of Sweden; and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Fredrickson’s name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Attention: Javene, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095.

A memorial service is scheduled Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home chapel in Ventura, the Rev. Jon Christiansen officiating.