Jack Kukla, 95, Killdeer, died Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the Hilltop Home of Comfort, Killdeer. Jack’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 13, 2010 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Killdeer with Fr. Darnis Selvanayakam, M.S.F.X. as the celebrant. Interment will follow at the Killdeer Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue at the church from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday one hour prior to services at the church.
Jack was born April 12, 1915 at Killdeer, the son of Prokop and Anastasia (Maluha) Kukla. He was raised and educated west of Killdeer and had attended the Blackburn Rural Country School.
Jack married Annabelle Kowis on February 14, 1943 at Wibaux, Mont. They lived in Grassy Butte from 1949 to 1951 where they owned and operated the Kukla Grocery Store. The Kukla’s moved to rural Killdeer in 1951 and have made their home there since. He belonged to the Farmers Union, the Grassy Butte Community Club and promoted the Rural Electric Co-op. He was licensed to fly a small aircraft.
Jack was a true pioneer of the Whetstone community; he was instrumental in initiating and advocating community improvement projects. His dedication towards being a steward of the land was insurmountable. Jack was a self-taught farmer, rancher and mechanic. He could repair anything that malfunctioned; restoring old vehicles and machinery were a real passion for him and auction sales were a highlight in his life.
Jack thought highly of his neighbors, always willing to provide his assistance in any way possible. It was not uncommon for him to shut down anything he was doing in order to help others. Jack was a generous, kind hearted and charitable man to friends, neighbors and those in need. His work ethic and integrity were of the highest quality.
Jack is survived by two daughters, Cynthia (Duane) Beckert, Jamestown, and Kolleen (Vance) Henderson, Orlando, Fla.; four grandchildren, LeAnn ((Kevin) Dykstra, Shayne (Melissa) Beckert, Brian (Andrea Emerson) Beckert, and Sally (EJ Rusiski) Beckert; six great-grandchildren, Ryan and Kara Dykstra, Connor, Alexis and Brady Beckert, and Andrew Beckert; two brothers, Pete Kukla, Dickinson, and Paul Kukla, La Mesa, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annabelle on January 15, 2008; his parents; brothers, Dan, Emil, Mike, John, Willie, Alex and Antone; and sisters, Herpina Charchenko, Polly Mosienko, Mary Perkins and Marie Skachenko.
