Mike Zaharia

Mike Zaharia, 80, of Minot, formerly of Walhalla and Pembina, ND died on Tuesday, December 25, 2007, at the Trinity Hospital, Minot, ND. Funeral services on Friday, December 28, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Walhalla, ND. Visitation on Thursday, December 27th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service at the church. Burial in the Hillside Cemetery, Walhalla, ND. Arrangements with Nelson-Askew Funeral Home, Walhalla, ND.
Mike was born April 11, 1927, at Pembina, ND to William and Dora (Karliak) Zaharia. He attended country school and later Pembina High School. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army.
After his discharge from the service he returned home and married Sophie Layhon, daughter of Alex and Lena (Kriska) Layhon. During his life he wore many hats as a security guard, working road construction and at a fertilizer plant, Boeing making nose cones for missiles, farmer and diary man, working for the City of Pembina and caretaker of the Pembina Cemetery. They later moved to Minot, where he and Sophie had a lawn care service and also had a seasonal job with Ward County Soil Conservation planting trees.
He was a member of the St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Walhalla American Legion Post #62 and a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife Sophie of 55 years; children, Paul (Margaret) Zaharia, Minot, ND; David Zaharia, Las Vegas, NV; Kathy Ligman, Minot; grandchildren, Aaron (Joy) Zaharia, Minot, ND; SGT. Lawrence Cheney Ligman, Fort Hood, TX; Janelle (Jeremiah) Brite, Wichita, KS; Rebecca Zaharia, Minot; step great grand daughter, Kassidy Kuehne, Minot; brother, Nick (Rita) Zaharia, Bathgate, ND; sisters, Mary Koropatnicki, Walhalla, ND; Ann Davey, Oregon City, OR; and many nieces and nephews, along with his loving and dearest neighbors, Bob and Joanne Mahoney, Minot.
Preceded him in death were his parents and infant sister.
Clergy: The Reverend Elsie Magnus
Casket Bearers: Richard Bordeniuk, Ron Bordeniuk, Jerry Koropatnicki, John Koropatnicki, Mark Zaharia, and Tom Zaharia.
Music: Sharon Carpenter, Organist; Tery Olson, Soloist; Carmen Magnus, Taps.
Military Rites by Bartlette-Resler Post #62 Walhalla American Legion.