Leonard Kovash

Leonard W. Kovash, 86, of Duluth, died on January 13, 2018 in Orlando, FL.  He was born on August 18, 1931 on a farmstead near New Hradec, ND.  Leonard was a son of William and Josie (Jedlika) Kovash.  At the age of four he and the family moved to Tacoma, WA.  Leonard began his education in Tacoma and then upon moving back to North Dakota he attended school in New Hradec and Dickinson.  After high school he joined and served in the Navy during the Korean War.  Leonard married Delores Bezdicek in New Hradec on June 25, 1953.  After marriage they lived in Long Beach, CA close to the Navy Base.  After his discharge from the Navy they moved to Torrance, CA where Leonard worked for the U.S. Steel Corporation.  In 1967 they moved back to Dickinson, ND purchasing and operating the Home Terrace Motel.  Leonard also did part time work at the Dickinson Press, (killing the pages every morning) and at the KDIX TV station in photography and creating TV ads.  In 1973 Leonard was employed at the physical plant at Dickinson State University and he worked there until his retirement in 1996.  He had many hobbies and his pastime enjoyments were reading, oil painting, sketching, making stained-glass windows, woodcarving, juggling, line dancing, playing the violin and guitar.  He was a runner and a 26.2 marathon runner.  He flew in a glider plane and did a tandem skydive out of a plane at the age of 72.  Leonard was always curious and interested in the world around him, a person of good humor and kindness.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister Val Praus who died on January 18, 2018.

He is survived by his wife Delores, daughters Jocelyn (Francis) Heid, Kimetha (Richard) Wanner and Sally (Scott) Richards, grandchildren Francis Leo Heid III, Emily (Scott) Brickles, Christina and Ben Wanner, and Jennifer (Marissa) Richards, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday April 20, 2018 from 10AM until the 11AM Memorial Mass in St. Michaels Catholic Church.  4901 E. Superior, St. Duluth, MN 55804.  Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home.  600 E. 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805.  218-727-3555.