William “Bill” Tomchuk, 86, formerly of Belfield, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Bill’s Parastas will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 10, 2013 at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Belfield, with Deacon Leonard Kordonowy presiding. Interment will follow at the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. 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 6:30 p.m., with a Panakyda at 6:30 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
William Tomchuk was born on November 20, 1926 in Zenith, the son of John and Mary (Chorney Kasian) Tomchuk. He changed his given name James to William while in school. He was raised and educated in Belfield.
William served honorably in the United States Navy during World War II, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion. He served as the North Dakota State Commander for Region 8. He represented the Legion in many parades while proudly wearing his original Navy uniform, although some years he said it was a tight fit.
William married Rose Demianiw on May 3, 1951, and to this union six children were born. Together they operated a farm in Stark County, North Dakota, and Skyline Liquors in Belfield. William remained active with farming after Rose’s passing, and well into his seventies could still show the sons a good day’s work. He was a member of the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, visited the Ukraine several times, and hosted family members from the Ukraine.
William is survived by five children, Bruce (Rita), Dickinson, Bryan (Kathy), Beulah, Mary Rose (Mark), Lakewood, Colo., Terry (Patty), Dickinson, and Chris (Marla), Pahrump, Nev.; nine grandchildren, David, Christopher, Nicollett; Misty, Alyssa, Morgan; Kacey, Jenna; and Moriah; two great-grandchildren, Trenton and Oscar; and his sister-in-law, Sylvia (Lee) Palmer, Renton, Wash. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose on February 24, 1980; son, Ivan, March 8, 2001; his parents; and seven siblings, Polly, Lena, Hattie, Magdelene, Irene, John, and Anne.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Belfield American Legion, or to the St. John The Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church.
