KRTV Television, CBS-3 in Great Falls, Montana since May of 1996 as Chief Weather Forecaster. I officially retired January 1, 2012 after 15 years on KRTV, “Montana’s News Station” . My health is good and it is time to enter a new chapter in my life. Thanks to all who have been so kind to me over the years and my wife and I both wish you all the very best!

This is Walter Brueuing, at the age of 114. He lived in Great Falls at the Rainbow Retirement Community and a gentleman that I consider a wonderful friend. He passed away April 14, 2011 at the Benefis Hospital after a brief hospitalization. At his request there will be no services. I have interviewed him extensively over the years and at one time he was the USA’s oldest living man and then the World’s oldest living man before his death.  The Guinness Book of World Records reported that as of March 8, 2011, Walter was the 2nd oldest person in the entire world, with the oldest being a woman about 3 months older than Walter.

He even attracted the attention of CBS News and Steve Hartman traveled to Great Falls to interview him for the Evening News with Katie Couric. You can find the interview on the KRTV website as well as other interviews with Walter.

In the fall of 2009 I was fortunate enough to be selected by readers of the Great Falls Tribune as their favorite television personality, an award which means a lot to me and our viewers. Thank you!

In May of 2004 I was selected by the Great Falls Education Association to receive the “Silver Apple Award” for excellence in supporting and promoting activities for children in the Great Falls community. Visiting area schools to speak about weather and television is always a highlight of my day.

I also host a 30 minute “Face The State” program at times that is broadcast state-wide on the Montana Television Network. Guests have included former Montana Governor, Marc Racicot & his wife Theresa, the late historian Stephen Ambrose, author and Rick O’Shay cartoonist Stan Lynde, Grammy nominated pianist and composer Philip Aaberg, Walter Breuning and many other citizens who have an interesting life to talk about and information to share with others in the state.

It took seven years to arrange, but the wait was worth it! David Letterman agreed to an interview from his offices in NYC.

Dave Letterman & Fred after the interview in NYC

Hello from outside the Sullivan Theater

At Daves desk with my wife

My wife and I both flew to New York during March of 2008. The interview that same evening as the flight and the next day we were sitting in the audience for a show taping. A tour backstage and a wonderful time! When in Montana at his ranch near Choteau he watches KRTV and admitted I was his Montana weatherman. The program aired twice, March 30, 2008 and viewer demand asked for a repeat aired on April 27, 2008. My deepest thanks to Mr. Letterman for allowing this interview to happen.

In August of 2006 “Jungle” Jack Hanna and his wife Suzi agreed to appear on the program to talk about their world travels involving animals and education.

Suzi & Jack Hanna on their deck in Big Fork, MT

During the 30 minute interview with Jack & Suzi Hanna

The couple have a summer home near at the edge of Flathead Lake and enjoy spending their summers in Montana. Hanna is most famous for his animal series and appearing on the David Letterman show and other national programs with animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman originator of “Everyone Has a Story,” was a in Ekalaka, Montana during late 2002. A highlight that year was being able to follow him and his photographer for two days to watch them develop a network story.

CBS Photographer Les Rose, Fred & Steve Hartman

He also agreed to a 30-minute Face the State program which was a “behind the scenes” look at his career. I also developed a local story to compliment the CBS Evening News story which Hartman wrote about one of Ekalaka’s residents. Steve has visited the state a half dozen times now and continues to travel the country at the whim of a thrown dart.

Yes that is the entertainer behind the famous YAHOO! yodel on the companies commercials.

Wylie "Yahoo" Yodeler from Conrad, MT

Wylie Gustufson of “Wylie and the Wild West” is a native of Conrad, Montana. The country artist has appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville dozens of times and he was a guest on a Face the State program in late April of 2003. The program was taped during a visit to his boyhood home in March of 2003.

Thanks to readers of the Great Falls Tribune I was selected as the areas “Top Television Personality” during a poll in late 2002 before they took a 7 year from the poll.

A highlight during 2001 was to be selected as one of 10 CBS Weathercasters from around the country to appear in a Top 10 bit on the David Letterman Show. The date was Friday, June 8, 2001. The Top 10 “Things You Hope You Never Hear Your Weathercaster Say on TV” was the topic. You can read more about the appearance and check the archives on David Letterman’s CBS site if you wish to read the list.

My previous television experience has included stops doing weather and co-anchoring for two years at KTGF Television in Great Falls as well as 6 years of morning news and weather on KTWO Radio and Television in Casper, Wyoming.

You can find out more about my radio and television careers, hobbies and interests by checking the topics and links on the left side of the page.

If you are interested in the LSMR-409 that I was aboard in the US Navy, don’t miss the section on US Navy service. There are a lot of photos and histories about the ship that no longer exists.

Thanks for stopping by and come by for a visit anytime!! I am always updating many of the areas.

Updated: April 15, 2011

In the fall of 2009 I was fortunate enough to be selected by readers of the Great Falls Tribune as their favorite television personality, an award which means a lot to me and our viewers. Thank you!

In May of 2004 I was selected by the Great Falls Education Association to receive the “Silver Apple Award”  for excellence in supporting and promoting activities for children in the Great Falls community. Visiting area schools to speak about weather and television is always a highlight of my day.

I also host a 30 minute “Face The State” program at times that is broadcast state-wide on the Montana Television Network. Guests have included former Montana Governor, and current National Republican party chairman, Marc Racicot & his wife Theresa, historian the late Stephen Ambrose, author and Rick O’Shay cartoonist Stan Lynde, Grammy nominated pianist and composer Philip Aaberg, Walter Breuning and many other citizens who have an interesting life to talk about and information to share with others in the state.

It took seven years to arrange, but the wait was worth it! David Letterman agreed to an interview from his offices in NYC. My wife and I both flew to New York during March of 2008. The interview that same evening as the flight and the next day we were sitting in the audience for a show taping. A tour backstage and a wonderful time! When in Montana at his ranch near Choteau he watches KRTV and admitted I was his Montana weatherman. The program aired twice, March 30, 2008 and viewer demand asked for a repeat aired on April 27, 2008. My thanks to Mr. Letterman for fulfilling his long-standing promise of an interview!

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