17 Oct Lawrence Dardis
Posted at 15:22h
in Uncategorized
by staff
Lawrence Paul Dardis, 86, recently of Center, passed away October 15, 2023 fortified by the sacraments of the Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held
on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 10:00 a.m. at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home with a Rosay/Vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour
prior to the service at the church. The funeral Mass will be live-streamed at corpuschristibismarck.com and will be permanently archived for future viewing at youtube.com/@CorpusBismarck/videos .
Lawrence was born to Michael and Mary (Lang) Dardis in Killdeer, ND on January 15, 1937. Lawrence started school in the town of Killdeer, attended
country school near his family farm, 8th grade at the Catholic boarding school in New Hradec, and graduated from Killdeer High School in 1956.
Responsibilities on the farm kept him from practicing with Killdeer’s teams but did not prevent him from excelling on the track team, setting a school
record for the mile run, and winning the praises of his football coach during important games.
After graduating high school, Lawrence enlisted in the US Army, serving in Korea as a heavy equipment mechanic with the Army Corps of Engineers in 1957 to 1960. He re-enlisted in the Army in 1962, specifically making his desire known to be stationed in Europe and following the advice of the recruiter to train to work with tanks. Lawrence served as an armor crewman in West Germany during the Cold War. He served his company as loader on the commander’s tank (#1), turret mechanic and troop armorer. He was also an Expert Marksman with the .45 pistol, a key member of the championship pistol team. He was again honorably discharged from service in 1964, this time with a Good Conduct medal.
Lawrence met the love of his life, Lorraine Kunz in Dickinson, ND. They were married in 1969 in Lawrence, KS, where Lawrence worked in water treatment at the munitions factory. Lawrence transitioned to working in the oil field in western ND and eastern MT. While living in Sidney, MT, their son, Wayne, was born in 1971. Lawrence decided to advance his career, enrolling in Hanson’s school in Fargo, ND, taking a 6 week course to become a welder and then taking a job at Thurlow Welding and Machine. While living in the Fargo area, Lawrence and Lorraine welcomed their daughter, Marie, into the world in 1973.
Lawrence continued his education at the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he was qualified as a Tool and Die Maker. While studying at NDSSS, Lawrence served in the ND National Guard and operated the machine shop at the sugar plant in Wahpeton. After graduation from NDSSS, Lawrence accepted employment at BNI Coal in 1976 in Center where he served as a welder, coal blaster, coal truck driver, caterpillar operator and skilled utility. Lawrence retired from BNI in 2000 and enjoyed being involved in the lives of his grandchildren.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lorraine, Bismarck; his son, Wayne (Ann), Randall, MN; daughter, Marie (Jesse), Bismarck; grandson, Christopher, Bismarck; granddaughter, Caroline, Bismarck; granddaughter, Joanna, Randall, MN.
Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Mary; his siblings, Marian, Michael, Thomas and Irene; his infant daughter, Joann.
Memorials in Lawrence’s honor may be directed to Saint Joan of Arc Academy 412 Eagle Ridge Court St. Joseph, MN 56374 or online at sjaacademy.org and click on the donate tab.
