"Mr. Fredlund knows that his lumber is the best available - much of it is so tough he has to drill it before nailing," said a 1958 article in the Sunday Sun Magazine.
Tons of soil were excavated and moved in wheelbarrow load after wheelbarrow load, creating huge dirt mounds, which were later redistributed, Ms. Fredlund said.
A foundation was dug and then forms were constructed to receive the concrete that formed footers. A dry well was also dug by hand.
"Meals were often cooked and served over an open fire and sometimes consisted of local vegetables," Ms. Fredlund said. "When two rooms were completely under roof, we moved in."
By 1958, the family had completed the kitchen, bath, dinette and a bedroom.
"We called that the first wing," Ms. Fredlund said. "I remember the day when he turned to me and handed me a hammer so I could put shingles on the roof."
The Fredlund family finished the house with two additional bedrooms by 1960.
"The cost was roughly $15,000," Ms. Fredlund said. "And today, the house stands as a tribute to his tenacity and never-ending spirit."
Mr. Fredlund maintained a keen interest in the history of both Carney and Parkville and enjoyed researching old records about the two communities in the Baltimore County Courthouse and county library, and talking to old-timers.
Other interests of Mr. Fredlund's included finding out-of-the-way places that served good food and attending bull roasts and dances.
Known for his gentle disposition and ever-present smile, Mr. Fredlund enjoyed making homemade candy and cookies and was an accomplished needleworker.
He also liked carving pumpkins for Halloween, dyeing eggs for Easter and setting up an elaborate Christmas garden with his model trains for the holidays.
Mr. Fredlund was a member of Hunt's Memorial United Methodist Church in Riderwood.
Services were held Friday.
In addition to his wife and daughter, survivors include two brothers, James Fredlund of Rutherford and Clarence Fredlund of Chambers Hill, Pa.
