Sylvester “Sy” E. Romanyshyn, 72, Fairfield, died Friday, December 27, 2019 at Sanford Health, Bismarck. There will be a Parastas/Panakyda at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Fairfield with Fr. Myroslav Dumych and assisted by Deacon Leonard Kordonowy. Interment will take place at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post #144. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a rosary and time of sharing at 6 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson.
Sylvester E. Romanyshyn was born January 2, 1947 in Dickinson, the son of Eugene and Lena (Kasian) Romanyshyn. He attended the New Hradec #5 one room school until 1957. He moved to Billings County in 1958 where attended the Joint School for two years, he then went to Belfield and South Heart for his high school and graduated in 1964.
He did custom harvesting at the age of 17 for a couple of years to earn funds for college. He then attended college where he received a degree in auto mechanics. Sy was drafted into the United States Army on his 21st birthday in 1968. He served for two years with one year having been in Vietnam. Upon his discharge, he returned to the Fairfield area and had said “I will never forget the hostility that I experienced upon my discharge”.
Sy was united in marriage to Debra Grosulak on April 23, 1981 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church. He started farming and ranching in Billings County in 1970 and was still at it. He enjoyed classic cars, helping his neighbors, socializing and telling stories.
Sy is survived by his wife, Deb; two children, William (Mattie) Romanyshyn, Fairfield and Nicole Romanyshyn, Aberdeen, S.D.; four grandchildren, Dylan Klein, Danica Klein, Samantha Romanyshyn and Valerie Romanyshyn; his brothers, Myron (Sandy), South Heart, Kurt, Fairfield, Roy (Sharon), South Heart and Ed, Fairfield; brothers-in-law, Joe Magalsky, Clyde Park, Mont. and Keith McNeil, Albuquerque, N.M., and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Elaine Magalsky and Patricia McNeil.
