John 'Sonny' Francis Lonsky (1935-2018)

John “Sonny” Francis Lonsky passed away Feb. 14, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society nursing home, Ellsworth. John was born Oct. 4, 1935, to John J. and Elizabeth Lorenz Lonsky in Jamestown, N.D. The family moved from Spiritwood, N.D. to a farm near Rogers when John was a child.

John attended St. Catherine’s Catholic boarding school in Valley City, N.D. where he played football. He graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1953. John took over the farming operation with his mother in 1957 after the death of his father and continued the farming operation until he moved to Kansas. He raised livestock and a wide variety of crops.

He was a basketball scorekeeper at Rogers High School and North Central of Barnes County schools for over 30 years. He also served on the Edna Township Board for many years and enjoyed league bowling in Valley City.

On Oct. 21, 1995, John married Marilyn Ann Gareis at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson, Kan. She survives.

After moving to Kansas in 1995, he enjoyed helping area farmers for many years and returned to North Dakota for wheat and soybean harvest for many years.

He was always available and willing to help others and always enjoyed helping the church in any way he could.

John was a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Wenceslaus Council in Wilson.

John was in long term care for over two years due to declining health and dementia.

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Marilyn Lonsky, of Ellsworth; sister, Gertie (Clarence) Wolf of Alexandria, Minn.; stepdaughters, Cathy Herber, Ellsworth, Lynnette (Barry) Bray of Mt. Pleasant, AR; and Donna (Todd) Stephenson of Sachse, Texas; three step-grandchildren, Miles, Evan and Ainsley; and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Barb Degen; brother, Aloisius Lonsky; and many beloved pets, including BJ and Lucy.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Williams Funeral Home, Jamestown.

A Mass of Christian Burial is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Valley City, N.D.

Interment is at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Fried, N.D.

There will be a mass and gathering at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Fried Cemetery in North Dakota or St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson.