Lawrence Kukowski

Memorial mass for Lawrence L. Kukowski, 87 of Beach will be at 10:00 AM, Friday, October 15, 2004 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beach with Father David Richter celebrating. Interment will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Beach. A prayer service and vigil will be at 7:30 PM, Thursday, October 14, 2004 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beach. Lawrence died Monday, October 11, 2004, at St. Joseph?s Hospital, Dickinson, ND. He was born July 8, 1917, in Beach, North Dakota the son of Leo and Helen (Kunick) Kukowski. He was orphaned at the age of eight and lived with Dominic and Stella Kukowski for ten years. Lawrence graduated as Salutatorian from Beach High School in 1935. He went on to study chemistry at the North Dakota Agriculture College in Fargo from 1935-37. He then hopped a freight train to California where he worked as a bellhop at the Vista del Arroyo Hotel from 1937-40. There he met Edgar Bergen, the ventriloquist, who tipped him for carrying Charlie McCarthy. ” While in California Lawrence purchased a 1937 Dodge Durant and drove it back to Beach. After many repairs he and his companions headed out on another long road trip. Later he wrote home “My beloved Durant put in its last stand galloping into Gallup New Mexico.” Lawrence returned to North Dakota and began farming.


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Burial Date: October 15, 2004