John Albert Winkowitsch
November 25, 1924 — November 30, 2014
John Albert Winkowitsch was born November 25, 1924, to Benjamin Levi Winkowitsch and Grace (Buseman) Winkowitsch in White, SD. John married the love of his life, Mildred Severson, on June 30, 1962, in Brady, MT. To this union were born two sons, David Allen and John Jay.
John attended country schools in South Dakota, where he and his 10 siblings were raised on the farm. He was a farmer and storyteller extraordinaire. He frequently reminisced about counting 1956 sheep on the farm in the year 1945, and how he once bought 39 acres of land for $390, then produced a crop making 30 bushels an acre that he sold for $5 per bushel. He worked hard and always improved the land.
John also loved to hunt and was an incredible shot. During his youth he would invest in a box of .22 shells with his brother George. They had to make every shot count so they could sell the pelts for money during the difficult 1930’s. One day after a hunting excursion, John and George skinned 60 rabbits, a raccoon and a coyote in under an hour. He also loved to hunt railroad date nails. He had the best, most complete collection of Great Northern Railroad date nails in the world.
On August 4, 1961, John moved from Iowa to Montana to help his brother Robert on the Olson farm, frequently remembering how that day was the hottest he’d ever seen: “107 o in the shade!”
John accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior with his beloved wife, Mildred, and then was received into the fullness of the Christian faith at the Easter Vigil of 2013 in Madison, WI. He happily passed into the arms of his Savior at 7:26pm on November 30, 2014, mere minutes after being anointed and with both his sons at his side.
He is survived by his sons David Allen (Geneva Lynn) Winkowitsch and John Jay; 2 grandchildren, Hunter Allen and Kimber Renée; his sisters Mary Kjerstad, Marjorie Winkowitsch and Vera (Dennis) Bochmann; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mildred Yvonne; parents, Benjamin and Grace Winkowitsch; brothers George, Robert, and Benjamin Winkowitsch; sisters Lila Kjerstad, Dorthy Dupee, Avis Severson and infant sister Mavis Winkowitsch.
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