Bernard V. “Ben” Pavlish, 82, rural Dickinson, died Thursday, December 10, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickinson. Ben’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, South Heart, with Fr. William Ruelle as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with rosary & vigil at 7 p.m. Lunch will take place in the basement dining area of the church.
Bernard V. “Ben” Pavlish was born July 14, 1933 on the family farm near Zenith, to Vincent J. and Olga (Zelinsky) Pavlish. Between 1939 – 1944, he attended several country schools in Stark and Dunn Counties. In 1944, his parents moved to a farm that is located four miles north of South Heart. That farm was once owned by Ben’s grandfather, John J. Pavlish. He continued his education in South Heart from 1944 to 1949.
As a young adult, he stayed on the farm, helping his parents and working at various jobs in the area. In 1952, he worked as a delivery truck driver for Nash Finch Warehouse Grocery. In the Fall of 1953, Ben took a job as a school bus driver for South Heart School. He held this job from 1953 – 1960. He also worked for Jim Haverlock in South Heart as a part-time mechanic’s helper from 1953-1954.
On June 3, 1954, Ben married Mary F. Kadrmas at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Hradec. For the first six months after their marriage, the young couple made their home with Ben’s parents. In December of 1954, Ben and Mary purchased their present farm and ranch, and having lived on this property for 61 years, farming the land and raising ranch cattle.
In the 1970s, Ben sang with “The Dakota Czechs” singing group. To keep busy in his spare time, he started to remodel homes in the surrounding neighborhood in 1981. After doing that for a few years, he started making different types of wood furniture, such as cabinets, end tables and flower stands in his wood shop for family, as well as for customers.
Ben joined the Knights of Columbus in Dickinson, Council #1515, in 1962. In 1985, he joined the newly formed K of C Council #9043 in South Heart. He became Grand Knight from 1986-1987. Ben was awarded Knight of the Year in 1987. He also held the positions of Trustee and Retention Director. Besides being a member of the K of C, Ben was a member of the Men’s K of C Choir; a member of the Church Board Committee at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in South Heart; a singer in the church choir and a church usher. Ben was also a member of the Eagles Club in Dickinson for many years.
Ben is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary, and their three children: son, Carey (Anne) Pavlish of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; daughter, Lynn Chateauvert of Gainesville, Texas; son, Bernie Pavlish of Dickinson; one brother: L. Kenneth Pavlish of Dickinson; two sisters-in-law: Mary R. Pavlish of Shepherd, Mont. and Hilda Pavlish of Dickinson; two grandchildren: Carolyn Moir of Independence, Ore., and Christopher (Melissa) Pavlish of Dickinson; one great grandson: Victor Pavlish of Dickinson; as well as many nieces and nephews. Ben was preceded in death by both of his parents, Vincent J. and Olga (Zelinsky) Pavlish; two brothers: Donald C. Pavlish of Shepherd, Montana and William E. Pavlish of Dickinson; and one sister in-law, Betty Pavlish of Dickinson.
