Paul Eugene Skorick , 83, Bergen and formerly of Butte died on Sunday in a Velva care center.

Paul was born on December 28, 1931 on the family farm in Aurena Township of McLean County near Butte, ND to John and Stacia (Boyko) Skorick. He was reared on the family homestead and attended a rural school in that area. As a teenager he assisted his family and area families with the operation of their farms.

Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 17, 1951. He served in Korea and received the Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation and National Defense Service Medal with one Overseas Bar prior to his Honorable Discharge on February 16, 1954 at Camp Hanford, Washington.

Following his discharge, Paul remained in Washington where he met and married Lorraine Jacobsen on July 11, 1954 in Coeur d\' Alene, Idaho. They made their home in Washington where they operated an auction house, Paul being the auctioneer. He also worked construction and was widely known as an excellent sheet rocker, earning the nickname "Rocky". To this day many people know him only as "Rocky". They moved to Butte, ND in January of 1977 where he continued working as a part-time auctioneer while he and Lorraine also operated a caf in Butte and farmed in later years. He retired in 2000 due to health reasons.

Paul was a member of the Velva American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He especially enjoyed playing pinochle, playing guitar and singing, raising & training horses and wagon teams. "Jid", as he was known by his grandchildren, restored several horse drawn wagons and sleighs, and delighted his family with many sleigh/wagon rides with his horse teams.

Paul's loving family includes his wife of 61 years: Lorraine "Baba"; daughters: Pam Colby (Corey Klimpel) of Voltaire, Laura (Alan) Woitte of Ruso, Vicki Foondle (Steve Swartz) of Velva and Brenda (Chris) Isaacson of Washington; grandchildren: Angie, Paul, Joey, Cheri, Tricia, Heather, Jessica, Rachel, Daniel, Allison; fifteen great grandchildren; siblings: Ethel (Russell) Plesuk of rural Butte and Rinald (Linda) Skorick of Colorado; sister-in-law: Sammy Skorick of Walla Walla, WA and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, siblings: Ruth, Glen, Raymond and Rollie and a grandson: Kenneth Foondle.

Celebration of the Life of Paul Skorick: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in Oak Valley Lutheran Church Velva.

Interment: Velva Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the church.