Fred Kanski, 81, Dickinson, passed away at Evergreen Assisted Living, Dickinson, on Monday, April 13, 2015 with family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer. A Parastas for Fred will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Fairfield, with Fr. Taras Miles as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fairfield. Military honors will be provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post 144. Visitation will be on Monday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a rosary & Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.
Fred was born at home to Pete and Mary (Kordonowy) Kanski on March 25, 1934 at Snow. He grew up on his parent’s farm along with 15 brothers and sisters and attended a one-room school house. In 1952, Fred graduated from Model High School in Dickinson. After graduation he went to work as a Telegrapher/Operator for Great Northern Railroad in Montana.
In January 1955, Fred enlisted in the United States Army where he honorably served until December 1957. He first worked as a Company Clerk in Fort Benning, Ga. and then as a Section Chief of Records in Personnel at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
In March 1958, Fred returned to the railroad as a Telegrapher/Operator at Great Northern Railroad in Malta, Mont. Fred married Victoria Logosz on June 16, 1959 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church in Fairfield. From this union, four children were born: Charmaine, Colleen, Charles, and Christopher.
While working for the railroad, Fred and his family moved to Havre, Mont., and then to Great Falls, Mont. He transferred to St. Paul, Minn. in July of 1960 where he worked as a Relay Operator until retirement in the mid-1980s.
After working for the railroad, Fred worked at the Higher Education Assistance Foundation and then Snyder Drug Store in St. Paul. He was active in the Holy Name Society, Legion of Mary, and Toastmasters International before moving to Dickinson, in August of 2005. In August 2009, Fred moved into Evergreen Assisted Living, where many of the staff and residents became like family. Fred’s immediate family will be forever grateful to the Evergreen staff for their loving care of their father.
Fred journeyed in life as a devout Catholic. His love of God and family were most important. He liked to help others and was truly a loving person. When you visited with Fred, you always knew he was giving you his complete attention. Overall, he was a passionate life-long learner and loved reading and sharing what he learned with others. In addition, Fred enjoyed playing a good game of cards, collecting a wide array of things, and watching sports on television. He was very proud of his Ukrainian heritage.
Dad/Papa Freddie, We love you so much! You have been the cornerstone of our family. What you taught by word, example, and complete love for us will live on. You lived your life guided by your faith in God and your hope in eternal life. Rest in peace.
Fred is survived by his four children: Charmaine Kanski, Cottage Grove, Minn.; Colleen (Arnold) Rodakowski, Dickinson; Charles (Kim Ferrel) Kanski, St. Paul; and Christopher (Becky) Kanski, South Heart. Papa Freddie is also survived by his grandchildren: Christina (Dusty) Richard, Caitlin Stene, Christian Rodakowski, Lane and Shelby Kanski; great-grandchildren, Clay, Cole, and Clint Richard. In addition, Freddie is survived by his three sisters: Betty Haverluk, Richland, Wash.; Ann (Roy) Basaraba, Dickinson; and Sister Rose Margaret Kanski, SSMI, Sloatsbury, N.Y.; his brother, Harry (Leona) Kanski, Dickinson; sister-in-law Janice Kanski, Pinedale, Wyo.; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Linda Martin of St. Paul.
Fred was preceded in death by his grandson, Jared Stene; his parents; three sisters, Helen (Walter) Malkowski, Josephine (William) Klym, and Irene (Thomas) Klym; and seven brothers, William Kanski, Nicholas Kanski, Brother John Kanski, CSSR, Sam (Margaret) Kanski, Pete Paul (Martha) Kanski, Jr., Nick Kanski, Steve Kanski; and brother-in-law Paul Haverluk.
