Lydia Shaparenko , 98, Minot, formerly of the Max and Butte areas, died Sunday, February 24, 2008 in a Minot Hospital.

Lydia was born November 20, 1909 on the family farm near Butte, North Dakota, the daughter of Egnat and Lily (Lukovsky) Kankovsky. One of the eldest of a dozen siblings, Lydia was in charge of the horses and cattle on the family farm.

She graduated from high school in Washburn in June of 1925 and went on to Wahpeton to obtain training in business office operation and stenography. She turned down attractive office management opportunities to go with then Senator Langer to Washington, DC.

Lydia enjoyed telling the story of the beginning of World War II when, on that fateful Sunday morning, she and her closest friends were having a quiet breakfast and another friend excitedly rushed into the room and said "...the Japanese have just bombed Coleharbor" . Obviously, in the excitement of the moment and likely not knowing where distant Pearl Harbor was, everyone was led to believe that the small farming community just up the road from Washburn had just been bombed by the Japanese.

While working in the ASC Office in Washburn, she met her future husband, Peter and they were married on March 2, 1942.

Homesteading east of Max, ND, Peter and Lydia were surrounded by individuals of similar ancestry and faith, with some remaining the closest of friends over the decades to this very day.

Two children were born on this remote farm, where no conventional electricity was available, and where, during the winter months, it was difficult to negotiate the roads during inclement weather. Moving to Minot in 1946 to raise their family, Peter and Lydia built their home on South Hill; a home which saw their 50th wedding anniversary, shortly before Peter passed away on January 8, 1994.

While living in Minot after retirement, Peter and Lydia enjoyed a lapidary hobby where a wide variety of agates were turned into amazing lamps, tables and selected jewelry.

After Peter passed away, Lydia moved to an assisted living environment, most recently with the fine folks at Brentmoor in southwest Minot, where she continued another hobby in acrylic painting.

Lydia was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Minot.

Her loving family includes: Son: Eugene Shaparenko, Pismo Beach, CA; Sisters: Agnes Lester, San Dimas, CA and Ella Kriletich, Hayward, CA; Three Grandchildren: Paul (Michelle) Bloomquist, Andrea and Kristin Shaparenko; Three Great Grandchildren: Kevin, Rachelle, and Kyle Bloomquist.

Lydia was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Peter, daughter, Ardys Bloomquist, brothers, Bill, John and Steve, twins, Phillip and Gar and sisters, Lena Nachatilo, Mabel Uhart and Stayce Estep.

Funeral service: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot
Interment; Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot
Visitation : Tuesday from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to First Baptist Church.