Joseph "Joe" Hruby

Joseph "Joe" Hruby, 88, Bismarck, formerly of Wilton, died November 24, 2007, at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilton, ND, at 11:00 AM on Wednesday with Rev. Chris Kadrmas officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wilton immediately following the service. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 - 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service in Bismarck where a prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Joe was born on February 13, 1919, to John and Ksenka Polensky Hruby. He was raised on a farm north of Wilton, ND. He farmed with his father and brothers right out of high school and then moved to Washington to work for Boeing Aircraft as a pipefitter. He returned to Wilton to help his family with the farm. In 1944, he married Evelyn Mertz at the St. Peter and Paul's Ukranian Catholic Church. They moved to Bismarck where Joe worked for Ulman Motors. After employment in Bismarck, Joe decided to return to his love of farming. After one year, hard times forced Joe and Evelyn to work for Armour Meat Packing Plant in West Fargo. Soon after leaving the meat packing plant, Joe worked for various farmers in the Wilton area. In 1946, their first daughter, Lorraine, was born. In 1947, Joe worked in New Salem for a short time for the railroad until the family moved to Washburn in 1948 and Joe worked for Hoffman Motors. Also in 1948, daughter JoAnn was born to Joe and Evelyn. In 1949, Joe, Evelyn, and the girls moved to Underwood, ND, where Joe worked for Gamber Motors. In 1951, their third daughter, Susan, was born. The family lived in Underwood for thirteen years and then in 1962, they moved back to Wilton where Joe became self-employed. He owned and operated Joe Hruby's Skelly Highway 83 for thirteen years and also drove bus for the school district. In 1967, son Lonnie Joseph was born. After selling his business in 1975, Joe and Evelyn worked for the Wilton School as custodians. Joe decided to pursue upward mobility and worked at Farmers Union. Closer to retirement, Joe also worked for the City of Wilton and retired in 1988. Joe was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wilton and coordinated the maintenance of their cemetery. He and Evelyn were also members of the Moose Lodge and Fraternal Order of Eagles in Bismarck. Joe is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Evelyn of Bismarck; three daughters, Lorraine Pete Stollenwerk of Fargo, ND, JoAnn Alan Hausauer of Bismarck, and Susan Daniel Kuntz of Lemoore, CA; one son, Lonnie Hilary Austin of Mandan; two sisters, Katie John Anderson of Dickinson, and Martha Jerry Kemmet of Jamestown, ND; one brother, Herman Hruby of Aberdeen, SD; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; seven brothers, Paul, Pete, Steve, Harry, William "Bill", Alex, and Michael; and one sister, Mary.

Joseph "Joe" Hruby

February 13, 1919 - November 24, 2007