Nick Pankratz, age 93, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great- grandfather, passed away on Friday, November 9, 2018 at the Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, Montana.
Nick was born on February 26, 1925 in Lustre, Montana, the son of Peter P and Helena (Falk) Pankratz. He was raised and attended grade school and 2 years of Bible School in Lustre.
On November 26, 1947 Nick married Irma Peters, the love of his life, in Larslan, Montana. They lived and farmed in the Ossette Community between Larslan and Lustre, where they raised their family. In 2004 they moved to Glasgow due to Irma’s failing health where he actively cared for her with love and attention. Nick was active in the community where he taught Sunday School and served on the Larlsan Mennonite Church Board, the Lustre Christian School Board, and the Norval Electric Board.
Nick was a kind and gentle man who taught his love for the Lord by his example. His faith in Jesus Christ was evident in his life and as he read the Bible to his family each morning before breakfast, he shared it. His discipline was fair and many times flexible; we always respected him because he was noncritical, loving and caring (and he could give a hard spanking!) He will always be remembered for the twinkle in his eye, his sense of humor which sometime caught us off guard and tickled our hearts, his bolo tie and cowboy hat. He could give a mean pickup ride chasing cows and always enjoyed talking ranching!
Nick moved to Nemont Manner in 2012, then to Valley View Nursing home in 2017 where he was at his passing. He lived an active life on the farm helping with the farming and cattle until his move to Glasgow. He enjoyed going to the sales ring to keep up with the price of cattle, walking at the Civic Center three times a week, driving to McDonalds to meet the guys for coffee, and attending EUB Church. He enjoyed company and would never turn down a chance to go out to eat or take a drive.
He was preceded in death by his son Bruce in 1955; his wife of 64 years in 2011; brothers Pete, Londo, Walter, Bill, John, Henry, and Richard; sister Lydia Dirksen and son-in-law David Lund.
Survivors include children Bonnie (Marlin) Reddig of Wolf Point, Lorene (Brent) Hintz of Billings, Wesley (Jodie) Pankratz of Glasgow, Charles (Sonya) Pankratz of Great Falls, and Cheryl (Jody) Faul of Glasgow; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and one great- great- grandchild; sister Helen (Jim) Hall of Billings, and sisters-in-law Marjorie (Richard) Pankratz of Malta, Marjorie (Larry) McKay of Monroe, WA, Marion (Elmer) Kesterke of Trochu, Alberta, Carloyn (Larry) Anderson of Mesa, AZ, Norma (Neil) Cromwell of Portland, OR, Ella (Ray) Stenka of Loveland, CO, Carolyn (Lavern) Peters of Lewiston and brother-in-law Robert (Deanna) Peters of Alberta, Canada.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday November 15, 2018
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday November 16, 2018
Glasgow Evangelical Church
152 Aberdeen St.
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Burial
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday November 16, 2018
Highland Cemetery
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday November 15, 2018
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday November 16, 2018
Glasgow Evangelical Church
152 Aberdeen St.
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Burial
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday November 16, 2018
Highland Cemetery
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Ron, Etta, and Selma Olfert says
Dear family of Nick,
We are sad that we cannot attend services for your Dad today. We remember him just like the obituary story told it. God bless you with peace and sweet memories. Love , Olferts
If it’s alright we’d like to give a gift to Yellowstone Boys/Girls Ranch in memory of Nick