Richard Zaylskie

Richard Gail Zaylskie, 77, Fargo, ND passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019 at Farmstead Care of Moorhead, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. He was born on November 18, 1941 to John and Dorothy (Smith) Zaylskie in Devils Lake, ND. The family moved to Fargo when he was a child. He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1959. Dick then attended NDSU where he earned a degree in Chemistry in 1963. He then received his Masters degree in Radiation Protection in 1964. On September 19, 1964 Dick was united in marriage to Kathleen “Kathy” Byrud in Lignite, ND. The couple made their home in Fargo where they raised their three children. In 1964, Dick began his career with the USDA, ARS, Metabolism and Radiation Research Laboratory. He worked in the Mass Spectrometer Lab for 38 years until his retirement in 2002. Model trains, gardening, and listening to classical music were Dick’s favorite hobbies. He also enjoyed spending time remodeling and updating he and Kathy’s old Victorian house. He is survived by his wife, Kathy; children, Damon (Nora) of Brooklyn Park, MN; Kim (Greg Barron) of Eagan, MN; and Kevin (Carla) and their daughter, Lauren, of Troy, OH; sister, Carol (Chuck Asplin) Burley, of Fargo; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Barbara Wampler. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley and Alzheimer’s research.