Julia A. Hurinenko, 98, Manning, died Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at her home. A Parastas for Julia will be at 10 a.m., Monday, October 19, 2009 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Fairfield. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fairfield. Visitation will be on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. There will be a rosary at 3 p.m., Sunday, at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Julia Ann Romanyshyn was born February 19, 1911 the daughter of Nicholas and Anna (Olienyk) Romanyshyn in Syracuse, N.Y. At 10 months old she with her mother came to Belfield to join her father who filed a homestead in the northern part of Billings County, a few miles north of the Snow Post Office. Julia attended a rural school and later graduated from Model High in Dickinson. She continued her education at Dickinson Normal School. She began teaching in 1931 with a class of four pupils, and following a 41 year career teaching in rural schools she retired in 1972. During this time she participated in the writing of a textbook for elementary grades titled “Conservation of Natural Resources”. She had served as state president of the Rural Teachers of NDEA.
Julia married George Hurinenko on June 2, 1936 and they had one son born to them, Marion. She helped her husband with farm work in the summer and taught school in the winters. An avid gardener, she enjoyed sharing her bountiful harvests with family and friends. She was active in various community services. Her greatest passion was teaching and preserving her Ukrainian heritage. She loved to design Ukrainian Easter Eggs and taught this unique art to many organizations and schools. She was a charter member of the Ukrainian Cultural Institute. Julia strongly believed in a good education for all. She and her husband, George established a foundation at Dickinson State University to provide a college education for many young people. Julia had been honored as Pioneer Teacher at the Northern Plains Heritage Festival in 1994. In her retirement years she enjoyed travels to the Ukraine where she assisted her relatives. Julia loved to entertain in her home and it was a gathering place for holidays as well as many special occasions.
Julia is survived by her son, Marion Hurinenko, Manning; two grandsons, Jeff (Jane) Hurinenko and Steven (Vicki) Hurinenko; three great-granddaughters; one brother, Joe Romanyshyn, Fairfield; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George on January 12, 1991; and nine brothers and sisters.
