James Petrik

James Frank Petrik, "Mr. P", 84, Bismarck, died January 18, 2004, at a Bismarck hospital. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 AM at McCabe United Methodist Church in Bismarck with the Rev. Rick Fossum and Rev. Dave Knecht officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 PM at ND Veteran's Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service. Jim was born on September 23, 1919, in Gregory, South Dakota, the son of James and Julia Novak Petrik. He was raised and attended school in Gregory, graduating from Gregory High School in 1938. He then attended South Dakota State University. Jim served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific. Upon returning from the service, he continued his education at South Dakota State University where he earned his degree in Agricultural Economics. He moved to Huron, South Dakota in 1947 where he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. Jim married Mary Josephine Snow on March 7, 1948, at Huron. They lived in Huron until 1963 when they moved to Bismarck. He then worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Bismarck where he worked for many years on the Garrison Diversion Project, retiring in 1979. During his retirement, he obtained his realtor's license and worked for Century 21. He was very active at McCabe United Methodist Church as a lay minister and served many rural United Methodist Churches. He was a youth director at McCabe United Methodist Church, a volunteer at Medcenter One, a member of the Golden Kiwanis, and was active in local elementary schools and South Central High School. He was a kind man and gave a tremendous amount of time to the youth of Bismarck and cared deeply for them. Jim also worked in Medora during the summer months as a greeter at the Harold Schafer Heritage Center. He won the Bismarck Tribune award in 1994 and also was part of the Olympic torch relay in 1996. Jim is survived by his daughter, Patty Petrik of Portland, Oregon; his son, Tom Petrik of Bismarck; his three grandchildren, Lora, Jim, and Steve; his two sisters, Julia Lembke of Kansas City, Missouri, and Evelyn Cook of Chicago, Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Jo; four brothers; and one sister. Memorials may be given to McCabe Foundation, a scholarship fund in honor of Mary Jo Petrik.

James Petrik

September 23, 1919 - January 18, 2004