Charles P. Urbanec, 88, Dickinson, ND, died Thursday, February 28, 2008 at his son’s home in Bismarck, ND. Charles’ Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Austin Vetter as the celebrant. Interment will take place at 11 a.m. CST, Wednesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan with Fr. Paul Eberle presiding, and with military honors provided by the Mandan VFW Post 707 and American Legion Post 70. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Jerry Volk presiding.
Charles Urbanec was born November 5, 1919 on the family farm in Dunn County, the son of Frank and Christine (Splichal) Urbanec. He was raised and educated in Dunn County and graduated from Campus High School in Dickinson. Following high school he worked at different jobs until taking flying lessons from instructor, John M. Worth. Charles had 33 hours in the air before entering the United States Army Air Force on January 5, 1942, following the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Charles went to basic training and received his wings as a bombardier at the Jackson, MS Army Air Base. He was later transferred to Columbia, SC before being sent to the South Pacific where he was a bombardier on B-25 and B-24 aircraft. He was a member of the 5th Air Force Jolly Roger 90th Bomb Group stationed at Guam and other islands in the South Pacific. Charles was honorably discharged in 1945 from the service.
Charles returned to North Dakota where he became owner of bars in Killdeer and Gascoyne, ND. On January 5, 1948, Charles married Margaret Roshau in Killdeer, where they opened a department store. In 1952 they took a chance and built the Midway Motel in Fargo, ND. After sometime they sold the motel and moved to West Fargo where Chuck repaired radios and TVs. In 1960, they moved to Dickinson where they continued to raise their family. Chuck and Margaret invested and managed rental property until the time of their deaths. They enjoyed traveling, going to Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Medjugorje along with visiting their children and grandchildren.
Charles was a member of the Eagles, Knights of Columbus, and the Elks, as well as the American Legion and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church where he served as an usher.
Charles is survived by three sons, Larry (Linda) Urbanec, Bismarck, Curt (Karen) Urbanec, Greeley, CO, and Chuck (Suzanne) Urbanec, Liberty Lake, WA; one daughter, Marilyn (Richard) Pavlish, Lincoln, NE; eight grandchildren; and two sisters, Mildred Kubik and Blanche Kubik of Dickinson. Chuck was preceded in death by his wife on February 3, 2003; his parents, one brother, Bill. Memorial are preferred to the St. Patrick’s Building Fund.
