IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Fred Bichet
No services are planned for former Florence resident Frederick A. Bichet II, 88, Hutchinson, who passed away peacefully at his home March 11, 2023.
Born March 14, 1934, to Stewart Bichet and Celeste Reynes, in New Orleans, Fred moved to Florence in 1947 after the death of his father.
Located near Florence is the Claude Francis Bichet farmstead, a homestead registered with the Kansas State Historical Society and established in 1858 by Fred’s great-great-grandfather, who moved to the United States from France after his service in the French Navy.
Fred was incredibly proud of his family’s history and the part his family played in Florence and Marion County.
After graduating from Florence High School in 1952, he received draft notice and was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, from 1953 to 1955 as company clerk for an intelligence unit. He was extremely proud to serve his country.
Fred returned to Kansas after his service and continued his education. After some guidance from one of his favorite instructors, he pursued teaching.
He graduated from Hutchinson Community College in 1958 and went on to Emporia State University, where he received his bachelor’s in education as well as master’s in psychology and business administration.
During his studies, he met his future wife and fellow educator, Carol Smith, and they married in 1962.
They moved to Hutchinson, where he worked for the school district for 35 years as a teacher and eventually principal at Morgan Elementary.
Fred and Carol cared greatly for their local communities. Among many other services, both were highly active with the Florence Community Foundation.
Because of personal financial experiences when attending college, in 2011 they started the Fred and Carol Bichet Scholarship for students attending HCC and would give annually to the HCC Endowment Scholarship Program.
Fred and Carol had two children, Stewart Bichet and Shauna Bichet, along with three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, in April of 2020, and his son, Stewart, in January of 2021.
He is survived by his daughter, Shauna Bichet (and husband Andreas); grandson Ryan Stuhr (and wife Emily); granddaughter Viktoria Boucher (and husband Jesse); granddaughter Erika Heidebrecht (and husband Taylor); and great-granddaughters Charlee Boucher and Kayda Heidebrecht.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the HCC Endowment Association Fred and Carol Bichet Scholarship or to the Florence Community Foundation in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N Main St, Hutchinson KS 67501.