Rev. George Dukart

     The Reverend George A. Dukart, 84, passed away on May 12, 2017, at St. Vincent’s – a Prospera community, in Bismarck, ND. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 19, at the Church of Saint Anne in Bismarck, with the Most Reverend David D. Kagan, Bishop of Bismarck, officiating. The priests of the Diocese of Bismarck will concelebrate. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, New England, North Dakota, on Friday at 1:30 PM MT.   Visitation will be Thursday, May 18, from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Saint Anne. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to Mass.      The Reverend George Dukart was born July 28, 1932, in Havelach, North Dakota, the son of Jacob and Catherine (Urlacher) Dukart.  Father Dukart was raised in southwest North Dakota where he attended eight years at St. Mary’s Grade School, New England, and graduated from St. Mary’s High School, also in New England. He studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, and received his degree in 1959. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bismarck at the Pontifical College Josephinum on May 30, 1959, by the Most Reverend Egidio Vagnozzi.      He began his service for the Diocese of Bismarck on June 22, 1959, as a substitute chaplain at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home, Bismarck, until August 1, 1959. He was then appointed assistant pastor at the Church of Saint Anne, Bismarck, until February 22, 1966. His next assignment was administrator of the Churches of St. Bridget, Parshall, and Sacred Heart, Plaza, until August 17, 1966. Father Dukart was then appointed pastor of the Churches of Holy Cross, Douglas; St. Charles, Ryder; and St. Elizabeth, Makoti. On July 1, 1970, he became pastor of the Churches of St. Joseph, Bowbells, and St. John the Baptist, Portal, until October 22, 1979. For the next fourteen years, he served as pastor of the Church of St. Bernard, Belfield, adding St. Mary, Medora, in 1991. For three years while pastor at St. Bernard’s, he was granted permission by the Sacred Congregation for Oriental Churches of the Holy See to serve the Ukrainian Catholics of that area.      His next appointment was pastor of the Church of St. Patrick, Dickinson, serving there until July 1, 1999. Father Dukart’s last assignment was that of pastor of the Church of St. Hildegard, Menoken, adding Sacred Heart, Wilton, in 2000, until July 1, 2005, where he retired to the Emmaus Place in Bismarck. From March – June 2006, he provided weekend help to St. Bonaventure, Underwood; St. Catherine, Turtle Lake; and St. Edwin, Washburn. He became parochial administrator of the Church of St. Vincent, Crown Butte, from 2007-2011. He then relocated to St. Vincent’s – a Prospera Community. He also served as a chaplain for the Catholic Daughters for several years.      The Reverend George Dukart is survived by his sisters, Mary Ann Timm, Deadwood, SD, and Betty Mack, Nekoma, ND; brother-in-law, Joseph Mack, Pettibone; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.      He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Jacob and Catherine; sisters, Gen Borho and Luella Mack; an infant brother, Steven; an infant sister, Anna; and brothers-in-law Kenneth Timm, Henry Mack and Norbert Borho.      Memorials may be given to the Diocese of Bismarck – Priest Benefit Association.