Nick Volochenko , 84, Minot, died Sunday, December, 23, 2007, in a Minot nursing home, after a year of illness.

Nick was born February 22, 1923, in Highland Township, rural Kief, ND, the son of Anton and Pauline (Dassenko) Volochenko. He was raised and educated in country schools and attended Kief High School. Nick entered the U.S. Army on June 22, 1943, at Fort Snelling, MN, and served in the European Theatre of WWII, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He received numerous decorations, including the Silver Star, while serving his country and was honorably discharged on May 4, 1946. He returned to the farm for a short time before beginning work for the Great Northern Railroad, and started working construction in May of 1948, as an ironworker.

Nick was united in marriage to Joyce Skorick on June 19, 1949, in Minot. He continued working as an ironworker on various construction jobs, including jobs in the St. Paul, MN area. He then began employment for Mattson Construction, working with them for thirty years. He helped build the Air Force Hospital, Milton Young Towers, Henry Towers, Minot Air Base missile silos, area power plants, and many other buildings throughout the area. He retired in 1986.

Nick was a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, WWII Last Man's Club, and the Battle of the Bulge organization. He was also a member of Military Order of Cooties, Local Iron Worker's Union #793 now known as #512, the 40 & 8 and attended Grace Baptist Church, in Minot, before it closed. Nick also drove the "Battle of the Bulge" pickup in many local parades, and the state fair parade for the last ten years.

Nick loved to garden, work in his yard, and in his early years hunt and fish.

Surviving family includes: Wife of over 58 years, Joyce, Minot; Sisters: Dorothy Hinsz, Longville, MN, Darlene Olson, Minot; Brothers: Richard Volochenko, Minot, Henry Volochenko, Moorhead, MN, Pete (Lorraine) Volochenko, Balfour, Walter (Lorraine) Volochenko, Butte; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Alvin and Tony Volochenko, three infant siblings: Tony, Annie, Sammy, and brothers-in-law: Roy Olson and Ben Hinsz.

Funeral: Saturday, December 29, 2007, at 1:30 p.m., in Immanuel Baptist Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Friday, December 28, 2007, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor's choice.