Dominick Richard (Dick) Blawat, 84 of Drayton, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2015 at his home after a courageous battle with leukemia. Dick entered this world July 28, 1930 and was raised near Minto, North Dakota. He was the 6th of ten children born to Leonard and Frances (Perkerewicz) Blawat. In 1952, Dick enlisted in the United States Army and served as a heavy equipment operator and ambulance driver during the Korean conflict. After working for a time in the Milwaukee, WI area, Dick returned to the Red River Valley to work in the heavy equipment and construction industry. He was employed by C. B. Woinarowicz and eventually purchased the business, which became D.R. Blawat Construction Inc. As the family enterprise evolved, the Blawat Construction name became synonymous with ditch and earth moving work in the northern valley. Dick believed in the value of hard work. As recently as last summer you could find him, sun up to sun down, cruising area township trails in his road grader, carefully shaping the hundreds of miles of roads he had maintained for much of his career. On June 30, 1959, Dick was united in marriage to Charmayne Adele Thompson in Stephen, MN. Together they made their home in rural Stephen where they raised four children. The Red River flood of 1997 prompted a move of home and business to Drayton. Dick, Charmayne and their family enjoyed wonderful friends and times at Springsteel Resort on Lake of the Woods. Summer and winter, fishing was a big part of life for Dick, a love he passed on, along with more than a few fish stories, to his children and grand children. Dick was an avid gardener and canner. His vegetable gardens provided generous supplies of delicious produce for family and friends for decades. He also had a knack for producing top-notch apple pie with lots of help from Charmayne and his kids. Flowers were plentiful in his yard and home as well. Christmas Cactus was his specialty! A member of St. Edward's Catholic Church, Dick rarely missed an opportunity to gather with family and friends and he couldn't resist a good game of pinochle or thirty-one. Dick is survived by his wife, Charmayne. Daughters, Wanda (Bob) Cary, Grand Forks, ND and Susan (Randy) Gryskiewicz, Warroad, MN. Sons, Jeff (Jane) Blawat, and Wayne Blawat, of Drayton, ND. Ten grandchildren; Nine great grandchildren; Sisters, Lucille Passa, Drayton, ND and Josephine Kruczynski, Milwaukee, WI, and special family friend Marie Pribula. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Effie Kroll, Lillian Mozinski, Ann Passa and brothers Joseph Blawat, Alfred Blawat, Harry Blawat and Leonard Blawat, Jr. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 3:00 PM in St. Edward's Catholic Church, Drayton. Interment will be in St. Edward's Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 14th from 6:00 to 8 p.m. with a Prayer service at 7:00 in St. Edwards Catholic Church, Drayton.