William Shypkoski, 85, Belfield, died Monday, August 4, 2014 at his home with his family at his side. A Parastas for William will be at 3 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2014 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Fairfield with Fr. Taras Miles as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fairfield. Military honors will be provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post 144. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary & time of sharing at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to services.
William “Willie” Shypkoski was born September 21, 1928 to Mike and Josephine (Mann) Shypkoski at Belfield. His early years were spent on the family farm north of Belfield with one brother and eight sisters. His father died when he was 11 years old. Being the youngest, Willie moved with his mother and sisters into Belfield, while his brother John kept the farm. Every chance Willie had, he would go to the farm and help John. After graduation from the eighth grade from Kasper Public School at Snow, Willie stayed on the farm and learned the ropes of farming and ranching, and helped John with his sheep business and breaking horses.
In 1951, Uncle Sam called Willie to serve our country. He was stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., for two years. Following his honorable discharge he returned to the farm. A month later he met Josephine Haverluk, a neighbor girl, and following a courtship of over a year, they were married on June 8, 1954 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church. Their first son Ronald was born in 1955.
In the Spring of 1956, Willie rented two sections of land. With the G.I. Bill, he attended school to learn how to weld, and had also worked for Cargill Elevators for a short time. In the Fall of 1957, Willie rented a farm 10 miles south of Belfield, where their sons, Ed, Gene, Bill, and Bob were born, and he continued to farm. In the Spring of 1963, Willie was badly burned, and following a 35 day stay in the hospital he returned to the farm and had said “the tractor seat looked very nice”. The family continued to grow with the birth of Dwayne in 1964, Michael in 1968, and Joni in 1970.
In 1981, Willie retired from the farm and started working for Billings County as a road worker. He and Josephine moved into Belfield in 1984 with their youngest children, and Willie eventually retired in the Fall of 1994. They remained in Belfield after that, enjoying the grandchildren, telling stories about the old days, playing cards with friends and family, watching rodeo on T.V., and living a quiet life.
Willie is survived by his wife of 60 years, Josephine; their seven children, Ed (Carla), Dickinson, Gene (Wendy), Morrison, Colo., Bill (Stacy), South Heart, Bob (Dorothy), Denver, Colo., Dwayne (Lori), Belfield, Mike, Belfield, and Joni (Monte) Obrigewitch, Mandan. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Jared, Bryce, Brent, Sara, Cade, Cauy, Terrance, Collin, Trell, Shea, Afton, Dylan, and Dawson; and seven great-grandchildren, Emrey, Abbie, Rayah, Edison, Ruby, Claire, and Aria. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Ron; and 10 siblings, Anna, Mary, Lena, Walter, Nellie, John, Olga, Betty, Kate, and Rose.
