Rory Burns

Rory C. Burns, 45, Mandan, died, Jan. 13, 2005, at Cheyenne, Wyo. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, with the Rev. Charlie Heidt officiating. Burial will be in the Mandan Union Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday at Perry Funeral Home, Mandan, with a vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church.

Rory was born June 13, 1959, in Bismarck, to Richard Joseph and Leota Marie (Jochim) Burns. He was raised and educated in Mandan, graduated from Mandan High School in 1977 and attended Bismarck State College. He married Diane Helbling in Mandan in 1979.

Rory worked for several years as service manager at Corral Sales. He then opened his own graphic arts printing business, Color Expressions, Inc., and helped manage the Stage Stop. He was one of the original organizers of the sailboarding "Regatta" at Lake Sakakawea. He also coached soccer and enjoyed watching his own boys play soccer. He enjoyed spending time with his two sons skiing, snowmobiling, riding wave runners and doing other fun and adventurous activities. He spent a lot of time at Lake Isabel in the summer, boating and skiing. He loved his boys very much and will be missed by them tremendously. He was presently working as a Union Millwright on jobs throughout the state and surrounding states.

"If tears could build a stairway to Heaven, we'd walk right up and bring you back again." We will all miss you and love you very much.

He is survived by his mother, Leota Burns; two sons, Ryan Burns, Mandan, and Derek Burns, Fargo; former wife, Diane; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Linda Ohm, Mandan, Rebecca Burns, Bismarck, and Sheryl and Michael Massey, Mandan; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Judy Burns, Mandan, Richard L. and Judy Burns, Glendive, Mont., and Robert and Cheryl Burns, Mandan; two aunts, Fay Brewster, Bismarck and Bernice LaDuke, Mandan; and many nieces and nephews.

Rory was preceded in death by his father, Richard J. Burns; his grandparents, James and Clara Burns and Leo and Gladys Jochim; and two uncles, Lewis and Cliff Jochim.