Nancy C. Kankovsky, 81, of Felton, MN, passed away on Monday, June 8, 2026, in Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND. Nancy was born August 8,1944, in Fargo, ND, to Louis and Myrtle (Anderson) Singer. She grew up in Detroit Lakes, MN, where she graduated from high school. Following high school, Nancy worked as a bookkeeper in Fargo, then spent two years living and working in Chicago, IL. In 1963, she travelled to Yellowstone National Park to work. Yellowstone would become one of the great loves of her life. While there, she met a second great love–Sheldon “Sky” Kankovsky. They were married May 28, 1966, in Detroit Lakes. Together they made their home in Minot, ND, where Sky was a police officer and Nancy continued her work as a bookkeeper. Over the years, they worked and lived in many towns across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Their son, Scott, was born in St. Paul in 1968, and Shelene was born in LaCrosse in 1973. Together, they operated supper clubs, including the Ranch Supper Club along the Chippewa River in Cornell, WI. In 1984, they returned to Yellowstone. Nancy held many jobs there, working in hotels, serving as the assistant manager at the Smith & Chandler Gift Shop, and–for a time–designing all of the “Christmas in Yellowstone” displays for Hamilton Stores. She loved cheering for her daughter’s sports teams and spending time with their “Thursday Night Gang” of friends.

After Sky’s heart attack in 1995, they moved into their RV and spent seven years traveling the country from Florida to Alaska. In 2003, they purchased Sky’s family home and returned to Minot, ND, where she continued to work remotely through Choice Hotels. She was repeatedly honored as one of the top reservations agents in the Million Dollar Club. After the 2011 flood in Minot, they settled in Felton, MN, where she spent the last years of her life.

While Nancy adapted to each new destination, finding new jobs, making new friends, and creating new homes for her family, she always remained true to herself. She was a woman who was strong in her convictions and devoted to her family. She was never afraid of hard work or speaking her mind. She somehow managed to be both tough and tender, all at once. Her favorite times were spent surrounded by family in rooms full of laughter and love. When Nancy wasn’t working, she loved beating us all at fast track and cribbage, baking her Christmas sugar cookies, stitching beautiful keepsake quilts, and making gifts for those she loved. She was a strong woman, a hard worker, a devoted wife and mother, and a survivor to the very end. She will be dearly missed.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Sheldon; daughter, Shelene (David, LTC US Army, Ret.) Waters; son, Scott (Keri) Kankovsky (ET1/SS, USN, Ret.); grandchildren, Sophia Waters, Jessica (Dylan, Ph.D) Kankovsky, Katherine (Casey Townson) Kankovsky; sister, Diane Velaski; brothers, David (Carolyn) Singer, Peter (Sandy) Singer; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Kiesha Kankovsky; her parents, Louis and Myrtle Singer; siblings, John Singer, Merle Singer, Clare Beckett, Richard Singer, and Carol Conway.

Visitation will be Saturday, June 27, from 10:00–11:00 AM, followed by the memorial service at 11:00 AM, at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.