Antonio Roman

Antonio "Tony" Román Sanchéz, 73, Minot, formerly of Spain, passed away on June 17, 2024 at his home.
Tony was born in Rota (Cadiz), Spain to Joséfa Sanchéz Ruiz and Manuel Román Niño. The youngest son of five, Manuel, José, Ascensión, and Juan. Some of Tony's (aka Rubio or Balbina) best times as a child were spent on the beach, playing with his friends enjoying the ocean and climbing amongst the ruins of rocks. He loved and missed his beloved Rota, his family, friendships, and carefree life on la playa. As a young man he joined the Spanish Foreign Legion, where he quickly grew up. After it all he fondly remembers his time in the legion. To this day he remembers all the songs and everything that he was taught and trained to do during his service. Tony was predominantly stationed in Melilla, Morocco for most of his time in the legion. After returning home, he worked construction in Rota, while playing Futból, Scuba Diving, and Kayaking in his spare time. He was one of the founders of the Club URTA, an aquatic scuba club in Rota, and also made the Olympic Kayak team for Spain.
Tony met his wife Jeannie in 1976, on her first night in Spain. She had moved with her parents and brother, while her father was stationed at the Rota Naval Base. When her father retired and returned to North Dakota, Tony followed, and they were married on June 23, 1978. They started out in Stanton ND, where Tony worked building houses in Hazen for Thiel Construction. While in Stanton they suffered the loss of twins, 10 months later they were blessed with their eldest daughter Alicia. The family moved to Velva, where Tony began working for Allison Construction and built the ADM plant. Tony found his true calling as a welder and pipefitter, and the family's travels began. Moving around building plants and working shutdowns around the country, adding an additional daughter Amelia in 1985, and the travels continued until the birth of their youngest and first son, Juan in 1989. Jeannie finally put her foot down, 3 kids and all their stuff, was just too much to move about the country. They settled in and around the Minot area, while Tony continued his travels primarily within North Dakota and Minnesota with Brownlee and Hayes, Fagen, ICI, Mowbray and Sons, etc.
Tony truly loved what he did, his family, his fur babies, music, and dancing. After retiring in 2020, due to illness, he kept himself busy being the family pet sitter, letting out all his grand fur babies during the day and mowing or snow-blowing lawns. Tony was definitely a "challenge accepted" kind of guy. He was often found dancing while doing dishes during the Women of the Moose Breakfast. Everywhere Tony went he had music and if there wasn't any he would dance without it. He missed the ocean but loved to fish, swim, and pretty much any water activities, except for the 2011 Minot flood.
He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Moose Legion, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 300, and IBEW union.
Tony is survived by his wife Jeannie Román; children, Alicia (David) Randall, Amelia (Preston) Monroe, and Juan Román; daughter of the heart, Kourtney Yeager; grandchildren, Olivia Monroe, Ashley Dyson, Leigha Randall, Shaun Randall, and Kaden Jones; brother, Juan (Manoli) Román Sanchéz; sister-in-law, Marie Watson (Bob Dahl); brothers-in-law, John (Cindy) Gorley, Richard Gorley, Robert (Shannon) Gorley; nieces and nephews, María José, David, Veronica, Estefanía, Noah (Khara) Borner, Jessica Gorley, Bruce (Keri) Reeves, Bobbi Gorley, Christina (Scott) Frink, Lora Gorley, Jennifer (Elliot) Rucker, Kathryn Gorley (Eric Pratt), Kasey Gorley; great nieces and nephews, Jordan Frink, Zachary Frink, Matthew Borner, Trenton Borner, Damarius Pratt, Azaria Pratt, Amara Pratt, Jaida Pratt, Zoe Pratt, Malakai King, RJ Rucker, Emery Rucker, Gavin Smith, Trey Reeves; along with numerous other extended family.
Tony was preceded in death by his unborn twin daughters; his parents, Joséfa Sanchéz Ruiz and Manuel Román Niño; grandparents; mother and father in-law, Jean and Wilbert Knutson, and Robert Dean Gorley; brother, José; brother and sister-in-law, Manolo & Fuensanta; sister, Ascensíon; brother-in-law, Scott Watson; nephew, Manolo; grandnephews, Jayden and Micah; along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Signing of the Register Book: Friday, June 28, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.
Vigil Prayer Service: Friday, 7:00 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.
Memorial Mass: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.
The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to Thompson-Larson Funeral Home's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thompson-larsonfuneralhome3198
A burial at sea will be done in Spain at a later date.