Freda M. Pickman, age 91, of Atchison, KS, died Thursday, July 30, 2026, at an assisted living facility in Lawrence, KS.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 3, at St. Joseph Church in Atchison. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, and a luncheon will be in the lower level of St. Joseph Church. A parish rosary will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 2, followed by a Nightingale Service and visitation until 5:30 p.m. at the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home.
Freda was born the daughter of the late Fred H. and Margaret (Moranz) Halling and raised on a farm near Denton, KS. She spent 1st-7th grades at the one-room Star School, 8th grade at Denton grade school and 9th-12th grade at Denton High School. In high school,she played on the school’s basketball team and was crowned the County Apple Queen. She earned her RN license at St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing.
The early death of her mother when Freda was just 14 compelled her to help raise her younger siblings, thus shaping her path forward as a loving caregiver. She continued that spirit in her professional life as a respected nurse and in her personal life as a devoted, charitable member of the Catholic Church.
She married Jerome P. Pickman on November 26, 1957, at St. Benedict Church in Bendena, KS. Freda cared for Jerome in his later years, and he preceded her in death on July 10, 2015, after nearly 60 years of marriage. She worked in the office of W.L. Anderson, MD, and later at Atchison Hospital until her retirement.
Freda could often be found laboring in her flower beds and garden, and she loved baking and cooking for friends and family. (Her pies and fried chicken were highly sought after at church bazaars.) Freda was also a devoted sports fan, proudly wearing KC Royals, KC Chiefs and KU Basketball gear.
She is survived by her three adopted children, Theresa Bowser of Lecompton, KS, Ann Niccum (Jon) of Lawrence, KS, and Brian Pickman (Sherri) of Marceline, MO; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Freda is predeceased by her parents, husband and siblings, Albert Halling, Paul Halling, Mary Schletzbaum, Louella Wagner and infant sister Rita Cecelia Halling.
Memorials may be left to St. Bendict Parish, St. Bendict’s Abbey, Mount St. Scholastica or Catholic Charities in care of the funeral home. Service livestream may be found beneath the obituary text at www.arensbergpruett.com
