Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272130
Title: Vonne H. Tarnavsky
Date: 10/27/1956-3/21/2026
Inscription/Marks: 10/27/1956
Summary: Vonne Helen (Bourgois) Tarnavsky, 69, of Watford City, ND, passed away March 21, 2026. A memorial service was held April 11, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Watford City. Vonne was born on October 27, 1956, to Lorraine Alice Bourgois and Roger Barlow Bourgois in Denver, CO. In early childhood at the family farm/ranch near Bismarck, ND, Vonne showed the first signs of one of her life’s passions, always playing with toy tractors, riding her favorite cow “Brownie,” and later falling in love with her horse, Sonny Rey, the first of many equine partners in the 4-H Horse club. Vonne graduated from Bismarck High School and then briefly attended the University of Mary, where, following her time with the Bismarck High School Symphony, she continued to play the cello and discovered a new passion, aviation, through the University of Mary practicum program. She obtained her private pilot’s license in Bismarck and, to pursue her love of flying, transferred to the University of North Dakota Aviation program, where she received a Bachelor of Business along with her Commercial, Instrument, and Flight Instructor credentials. She expected to have a career in aviation, but as life surprises happen, health issues made Vonne change directions. As the saying goes, she turned lemons into lemonade, joined her father in farming and ranching, and started working with Morgan horses. It was at an ND Morgan Horse Association meeting that she met and later married the love of her life, Morris Tarnavsky. Vonne moved to join Morris at the ranch on the outskirts of the North Unit of the ND Badlands, where Gus Tarnavsky, their new son, joined the crew in 1991. While ranching, Vonne supported family interests by actively helping or participating in the Archery Club and competitions, Boy Scouts, music, and First Lutheran Church. She loved gardening, cooking, and, as of late, quilting. Vonne was also a member of the ND Morgan Horse Association and served as a board member of the American Morgan Horse Association. Vonne never let go of her interest in music, and as Gus flew the nest, she decided to actively participate in the music community by playing her cello. She began a serious study of the cello with Dr. Eric Anderson at Minot State University. Vonne played cello with many groups, including the Bismarck Symphony, Dakota Chamber Music, the ND Music Camp, and with her music home, the Minot Symphony Orchestra. Vonne played with the Minot Symphony for 14 years and served on the Minot Symphony Foundation. She viewed them as her second family. Vonne received the greatest gift of her life last year when her grandchild, Alice Rae Tarnavsky, was born. She cherished her time with Gus, Jassmine, and Alice. As a wonderful treat, they would have breakfast together every Sunday morning and celebrate the week's activities. Vonne is survived by her son, Augustus Tarnavsky, and his very special partner, Jassmine Knecht; her grandchild, Alice Rae Tarnavsky; her sister, Jill Bourgois; and her Avian best buds, Rocco and Wally. She was preceded in death by her husband, Morris Tarnavsky; and parents, Roger and Lorraine Bourgois.
Red ID: FND_I_79622 Image ID: 557024 Image Notes: FND001 272130

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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