William “Bill” Dutchuk, 87, Dickinson, ND died Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Bill’s funeral parastas will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 1, 2007 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Fairfield, ND with Fr. Taras Miles as celebrant and Fr. Dennis Schafer as con-celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fairfield. Visitation will be from 3 pm until 9 pm, Friday, November 30, with a rosary at 7 pm at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service time at the church.
William Dutchuk was born July 18, 1920 on the family farm near Snow, ND to Metro and Polly (Pryhorocki) Dutchuk. He attended country schools and graduated from Model High, Dickinson. While on the family farm, Bill would often work cattle in the badlands for up to two weeks with the help of his trusted horse, Rainbow. After graduation Bill worked for the CCC. He married Ann Kanski on November 16, 1943 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ukraina, ND. Shortly after their marriage he and Ann moved to Spokane, WA returning four years later to the Snow area where he farmed until 1956. That year he and his family moved to Dickinson where he held various jobs until becoming a custodian for the Dickinson Public schools, a job he held until retiring in 1985.
Bill took great pride in his work at the school but he thoroughly loved being around the children and teachers. He became an adopted “Father” and “Grandfather” to many of the children and was always ready with a listening ear and a word of comfort and encouragement. Bill enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and traveling with Ann and his grandchildren. He moved into St. Benedict’s Health Center four years ago and the other residents and staff became his second family.
Bill is survived by four children; John (Kay) Dickinson, Victor (Karin), Altoona, IA, Larry (Terri), Dickinson, and Debi (Todd) Schweitzer, Dickinson; 14 grandchildren, Kevin, Kim, Todd, Kurt, Victor Jr., Corey, Scott, Dawn, Jennifer, Gene, Luke, Ginny, Mary, and Molly; 11 great-grandchildren, and one brother, Sam. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, one brother and two sisters, and one great-grandson
