Lawrence Ken Pavlish, 87, Dickinson, died Saturday, January 20, 2024 at CHI St. Alexius in Dickinson. Ken’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m., Monday, January 29, 2024 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Dickinson with Msgr. Thomas Richter as celebrant. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a Rosary and Vigil at 2 p.m. with Deacon Harvey Hanel presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
“Let me tell you a story.” If you knew Ken, you likely heard that line a few times.
Tales of growing up with three brothers on an unforgiving prairie.
Stories of a sailor’s experiences from Cuba to Greece.
Scratching out a living on the farm.
And finally, working in the oil fields of western North Dakota.
Memories of his past are a rich treasure of a life well lived.
They are now our stories to tell.
Lawrence Kenneth Pavlish was born on April 23, 1936 to Vincent and Olga (Zelinsky) Pavlish. Ken married Betty Jane Ficek on September 1, 1958 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Hradec. Their loving marriage endured for nearly 50 years until Betty’s passing on January 4, 2008.
Ken is survived by his five children, Kevin (Cheryl Reinhiller), Melanie (Melvin) Hanel, Cindy (Tom) Solberg, all of Dickinson; Tim Pavlish of Fargo and Patti (Robin) Zephier of Rapid City, SD. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Courtney Downing, Garrett (Molly) Hickel, Sam and Melissa Solberg, Landon and Heather Pavlish; and his great-grandchildren, Paytynn Hickel, Jeremiah Jenkins and Noura Hickel-LaRoche; his in-laws Mary (Ben) Pavlish, Hilda Pavlish, Delmar Ficek and Nancy (Justin) Hoff, all of Dickinson, Eileen Leiss of Bismarck and Donna (Tom) Binek of St. Louis, MO; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Olga and Vincent Pavlish; his wife Betty; infant son, Joseph; mother and father-in-law, Albert and Lillian Ficek; brothers, Don, Ben and Bill Pavlish; brother-in-law, Roger Leiss; sister-in-law, Mary (Don) Pavlish; and nephews, Michael Pavlish and Carey Pavlish.
Dad was proud of his many years of working for Koch Industries where he made many friends and collected many stories. He was also extremely proud to be a member of the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. He shared many of his experiences through his stories and often talked about “The Guys”. Dad was a strong man of faith and was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Hradec for over 60 years, where he regularly led the Rosary.
We would like to thank the staff at CHI St. Alexius Health, St. Luke’s Nursing Home and especially all the staff at Park Avenue Villa. Dad knew he was loved and well cared for and he told us often “It feels like home”. Rest in Peace Dad.
