William (Fred) Albrecht Spearfish William (Fred) Albrecht passed away on Tuesday June 5, 2007 at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Fort Meade. He was 85 years old. A memorial service will be held at 11am Friday June 8th 2007 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, with Chaplain Moe Greiner officiating, full military honors will be provided by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard. Fred was born on February 4, 1922 in Gallatin, Missouri to John and Leora Albrecht. He served in the US Army from October 1942 to October 1945 in England with the Eighth Army Air Corps, B-17 Bomber, 1st Air Division. He was awarded five bronze stars for Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes and Rhineland. After discharge from the military, Fred attended Southwest Missouri State College and graduated as an electrical engineer. Fred devoted his career to the development and construction of electric and telephone facilities and in the design of telecommunication systems. In 1962, he was a field engineer for the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) for North and South Dakota. In 1978, he was transferred to REA Headquarters in Washington DC where he served as Director of various departments for the remainder of his career. He was instrumental in the design and development of many REA projects. He was awarded the Department of Agriculture Certificate of Merit for The development and codification of regulations governing activities of telecommunication facilities and services. He retired in 1996 and has enjoyed retirement in Spearfish, SD. Happy to have shared in his life are his wife Evelyn Albrecht, Spearfish, SD and her children Alice and Randy Wright, Pierre, SD; Larry and Beverly Volek, Olathe, KS; Mike and Dixie Volek, Highmore, SD; Susan and John Reiffenberger, Sturgis, SD; six brothers and sisters: Elizabeth Anderson, Elsberry, MO; George Albrecht, Carey, OH; JD Albrecht, Fall Creek, WI; Jetty Keathly, Vilona, AR; Marion Albrecht, Jamesport, MO; Martha Tucker, St. Joseph, MO; numerous grand children, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sisters Alma Albrecht, Melba Robinson, Thelma Plowman and his brother LeRoy Albrecht. In lieu of flowers, a donation maybe made in Freds name and payable to the South Dakota Muscular Dystrophy Association.