Laudie L. Sykora, 79, Dickinson, died Monday, August 8, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Laudie’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Church of St. Wenceslaus, Dickinson, with Fr. Patrick Schumacher as the celebrant. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan on Monday at 12 p.m. CT. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson Veterans Honor Guard following the service. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Bob Zent presiding.
Laudie was born November 16, 1931 in Stark County of North Dakota, the son of Laudie and Bessie (Jilek) Sykora. He attended Versippi School. Laudie served honorably in the United States Army from July 30, 1954 to May 24, 1956.
Laudie returned home and married Lorraine Froehlich on June 27, 1956. They moved to a farm north west of Dickinson for three years and then back into town. He worked for Badinger Sand & Gravel, and Fisher Sand & Gravel, prior to beginning a 23 year career with Stark County, which he retired from in 1996, and during this time he also worked part time for West Plains Implement. During the harvest season he enjoyed helping George Sykora with the harvest.
He belonged to the Dickinson Veterans Honor Guard, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, German/Hungarian, and K.D. of New Hradec. He enjoyed playing solitaire, search word puzzles, poker games, and especially spending time with his grandchildren.
Laudie is survived by his wife, Lorraine; their three children, Robert (Sherri) Sykora, Dickinson, Connie (Francis) Knopik, Belfield, and Denice (Terry) Hager, Lincoln, Neb.; seven grandchildren, Stephen Knopik, Jessica (Funnon) Barker, Debrah (Lester) Iverson, Grace Knopik, Daniel Knopik, Joe Hager and Chris Hager; one great-grandchild, Payton Iverson; three sisters, Georgie (Vince) Hibl, Irene (George) Kessel, Dickinson, and Bernice (Roger) Ballweber, Fergus Falls, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents.
