Deborah Fricke

Deborah “Debbie” LaRee Fricke, 68, of Crawford, passed away on Friday, May 12th, 2023, with her family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer. Her Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm on Wednesday, May 17th at Harrison Bible Church in Harrison, NE with Pastor Matt Parker officiating. Online condolences may be made on Deborah’s memorial page at www.chamberlainchapel.com. Chamberlain Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.

Debbie was born on December 17th, 1954, to Marion “LaVerne” and Josephine “Jody” (Tollman) McCoy in Sidney, NE. Residing in Crawford most of her childhood, she went to Glenn Country School. She trusted in Jesus for her salvation at Vacation Bible School in 1963. She attended Crawford Public Schools, graduating as Valedictorian with the class of 1973. She attended Western Nebraska Community College, graduating as an RN in 1976 before attending both Multnomah Bible School and New Tribes Bible Institute.

Debbie grew up on the ranch that her family owned. She loved riding horses every chance she could get. She counseled at a wilderness horsemanship camp in Washington, and was inspired to start her own when she returned to her family’s ranch in Crawford. She ran this camp for several years. In the winter of 1981, she met her husband, Herb, with whom she ministered at both Rodeo Bible Camps and horsemanship camps. They were married on October 23rd, 1982. They had 3 children: Shawn, Amy, and Chris.

Debbie and Herb helped put on Rodeo Bible Camp together with their church, Harrison Bible Church, for 25 years. Debbie worked as a nurse for many years at both the hospital and nursing home in Crawford. She stopped nursing to homeschool her kids, but later on spent many years working in home health care for neighbors and family. She was a faithful teacher of Sunday School and Kids Club at their church. Debbie was a loving wife and mother, and a big fan of both Bible study and spending time in God’s creation.

Debbie leaves behind her husband, Herb; son, Shawn (Ann) Fricke; daughter, Amy (Miles) Emard; son, Chris (Shelby) Fricke; grandsons, Tucker and Jackson Fricke; father, LaVerne; brother, Rodney (Joyce) McCoy; brother, Roger (Kathy) McCoy; brother, Roy (Chris) McCoy; brother, Edward (Shelley) McCoy; and stepbrother, Gerry Warren.

Preceding her in death are her grandson, Levi; mother, Jody; stepmother, Jo; stepsister, Edie; and her grandparents.