Shawn M. Verbitsky, 40, Butte, died Monday, April 22, 2013 at the St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.

Shawn Michael Verbitsky was born June 26, 1972, in Minot to Daryl and Louise (Ziegler) Verbitsky.
He was raised on the family farm near Butte. As a child Shawn loved playing with his Tonka trucks and making tracks in the snow with them. He also liked playing with his Legos, riding on the tractor, and being right beside his dad and Grandpa George learning the ropes on becoming a farmer. Shawn enjoyed playing basketball and being involved in FFA in high school. He graduated from Butte High School in 1990. He then decided to go off to college, but soon realized he knew everything he needed to know in two weeks and returned to the farm to start a career that he was born to do...being a farmer.
Shawn spent countless hours on the farm but most importantly found the time to enjoy spending it with family and friends. During that time he met the love of his life, Patty Schell, and they were married on October 16, 1999 in Drake ND. Shawn and Patty made their home on the Verbitsky family farm where they raised three wonderful children, Taylor, Ashley, and Tanner.

Anyone who knew Shawn, knew he was a very helpful, loving, kind person, who would do anything for anybody. Shawn enjoyed raising cattle, fishing, hunting, watching football, spending time with family and friends, taking vacations, helping on various boards in the surrounding communities, serving as a volunteer fire fighter, and last but not least talking. Whether it was on the phone or in person Shawn could strike up a conversation with anyone no matter where he was, who he was with, or what he was doing. He was blessed with a gift to talk.
Shawn was very active in his life until he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He never gave up, never complained, and never asked, Why me? . He was unable to do the things he normally enjoyed, but was still able to visit and take in the special time with family and friends who came to visit with him. Shawn put up a good fight until the very end. His last days were spent surrounded by his family, friends, and caring medical staff. We shared stories, told him what a wonderful man he is, how much he is loved, and how greatly he will be missed.
He is survived by his wife Patty (Schell) Verbitsky, children Taylor, Ashley, and Tanner Verbitsky all at home; parents Daryl and Louise, rural Butte; sisters Darla (Jeff) Bakko and their children McKenna and Danaka of Fargo, Charlene (Mike) Jungers and their children Adin, Ava, and Jett of Hazen; his mother-in-law, Peggy Schell of Mylo, ND; and numerous Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.
He was preceded in his death by Grandparents George and Evelyn Verbitsky and Helen Ziegler, father-in-law Larry Schell, and cousin Lauren Kandt.

In leu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be given to a charity of your choice.

Funeral: Thursday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Velva.
Visitation: There will be no viewal but people may sign the memorial book from 2pm to 5 pm at the church on Wednesday.
Prayer Serv ice: Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the church.
Burial: Butte Cemetery later in the spring.