On January 3, 1925, Freeman Rude and Harlan Thompson started Rude Thompson Trucklines, in Redfield, SD. Their partnership lasted 10 years when Harlan was stuck in snow while trying to help a competitor and a few days later succumbed to pneumonia.
In 1937, Freeman purchased Harlan’s share of the business from his widow.
Freeman passed away in 1945, doing what he loved. Workers found him on the docks when they came in one morning. He died of a heart attack. At the time of his death, Freeman
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