By HDN Staff
THOMAS VELK
Thomas Velk, 93, a long time Havre area resident and North Havre farmer, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes.
Rosary will be held 7 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude Catholic Church in Havre with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.
Velk was born Jan. 14, 1906, in Rugby, N.D., to Balthasar and Christine (Keller) Velk. In 1913, the family moved north of Havre. He attended Miller and Black Diamond Schools in rural North Havre.
On Jan. 14, 1928, he married Alice Brended in Havre. The couple lived north of Havre. In 1937, he worked for the WPA on the Wild Horse road. The couple purchased a home in Havre and continued to travel between Havre and the farm. In the winter months he worked for the Great Northern and Grogan-Robinson Wholesale in Havre. The couple later sold the house in Havre and purchased another farm 12 miles north of Havre. In 1950, they purchased a home in Havre. He retired in 1971, and resided in Havre with his wife. He continued to work as an advisor to his children who were also farming.
Velk played the accordion and would sometimes play for family gatherings. He was an avid card player and enjoyed games such as wist, pinochle and 500. He was a life member of the Eagles Club in Havre.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, five sisters, and a daughter, Doris Velk in 1990.
Survivors include his wife, Alice of Havre; sons, Thomas B. Velk of Great Falls, Richard and Rayburn Velk of North Havre and Vincent Velk of Havre; daughters, Joyce Velk Woodward of Grandview, Wash., Betty Velk Hankins of Carter, Iris Velk of Las Vegas, Nev., and Audrey Velk Cox of Chinook; 28 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.v
