Freddie Spencer Obituary
Freddie Vincent Spencer was born at 11:43pm on June 4th, 1957, at Saint Vincent's Hospital, in Billings, to his mother Ellen Hinton, and a father whose name he refused to speak, so it won't be written here (public records are available elsewhere.) Freddie's early life was spent in Absarokee, and it was in the Yellowstone River by Itch-Kep-Pe Park in Columbus that he first met the mermaids he adored for the rest of his days. Soon after that unforgettable encounter, he ran away to San Francisco while still a teen. It would be many years before he returned to Absarokee, and then only to visit his grandmother, aunt, and cousins, all of whom he loved.
During his San Francisco years, Freddie came to worship his musical goddesses: Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Marianne Faithfull, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Lydia Lunch, Patti Smith, and the ineffable Diamanda Galas. These women could quickly transport him to another world, full of love, pain, shadow, light, shrieks, and a whole lot of "shimmy." Nothing could hold him back when it was time to dance. Freddie held nothing back at all, as a rule.
He returned to Billings in the mid-1980s, giving the Magic City its first luscious taste of black leather punk rock mohawked attitude. Stirring things up, he made many friends, a few enemies, and became part of a notorious "group" in the city's nascent gay scene. But, it took only a few years in the shadow of the Rimrocks for him to yearn for something bigger, heading first to Portland, then Seattle, where he lived for many years. During the 1990s, he became locally famous in the Seattle grunge music scene of that era, by the street name of "Raven," spending far more than a few nights partying with many, including rockers who later became nationally known.
City life is hard, though, and by the late 1990s, Freddie was ready to leave Seattle and return to his roots. He passed back through Portland first, living with friends, and stirring up some of his signature havoc. Then it was back to "the great state of emm-tee," where a whole new life awaited him.
It was in Billings, this second time around, that a large family of friends coalesced around him. Some of them old friends from the 1980s, staying in close touch from a distance, others new friends who would quickly become dear to him. Freddie became a fixture at The Monte Bar & Casino, where he will be long remembered and fondly missed.
Sadly, in late 2018, bad news arrived. Freddie had developed cancer in his lungs. By the time it was diagnosed, he'd already reached Stage 4, with tumors in both lungs. He underwent chemo for a few months, then decided to "eff that" and get on with his life, while preparing for his death. The following year and a half were spent connecting more deeply with friends, writing, and spending time with his dearly beloved animal family: JuJu, Magick Kitty, Chloe-kins, Elliot the dove, and Lilith the snake. Through it all, Freddie fought hard for every good time, for every loving hug, for every heartfelt truth, and for every cackling joke there was to be had. Until finally, at 8:43pm on December 17th, 2020, he went home to Mother Kali, surrounded with love.
We will always remember, and dearly miss you, Freddie. Tell Mama hello for us all.
If you would like to offer a memorial gift, please make a donation to the Rimrock Humane Society of Billings. Be like Freddie, and always, always, always be kind to animals.
