Joel Tokach

Joel Tokach, 70, of Concord, CA and Sanger, ND passed away peacefully at Sanford Health in Bismarck on Friday, July 10, 2026. 

A Celebration of Life for Joel will take place this fall at the Eagles Club in Mandan.

Joel Keith Tokach was born to Arthur and Mickey Tokach on December 14, 1955, in Mandan, North Dakota. He was the fourth of seven children and the third son. In birth order came David, Patrick, Laura, Joel, Lynn, Daniel (the baby), and Lorraine (the youngest).

Joel attended St. Joseph's Catholic School for most of elementary school. However, it wasn't the right fit for him... and probably not for the school either. He told stories about those mean nuns from St. Joseph's, and somehow, I think he may have had some of it coming. He also liked to remind everyone that he was the punching bag for his older brothers growing up. As more family stories surfaced over the years, though, we discovered he probably had at least some of it coming too.

One of his favorite stories was about his two brothers throwing him down a hill and breaking his arm. Later, the reason for this came out, and it involved Joel stealing his older brothers' job of shining their dad's work boots so he could pocket the shiny quarter for himself. Looking back, that story lined up well with his later ironworker days—Joel was never afraid to hustle for an opportunity.

Growing up in a large family during the 1950s and '60s meant everyone worked. Arthur and Mickey ran a tight ship. The house stayed spotless, chores were non-negotiable, and everyone was expected to pull their weight. Those values of hard work, responsibility, and providing for your family stayed with Joel for the rest of his life.

Joel attended and graduated from Mandan High School in 1974, where he wrestled, played football, wore long hippie hair, and developed the blue-collar work ethic that defined him. Having helped his father build a house in the river bottoms as a young boy, he found an early passion for construction and structural engineering.

He attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, earning his Associate of Arts degree before beginning his career as an ironworker.

Like many ironworkers, Joel "boomed out," chasing work wherever it could be found. His travels took him to Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, and eventually California.

In the summer of 1978, Joel met Dawn Marie Brown. They both happened to live in the same apartment complex. His roommate convinced him to come hang out with "the girls," and although Joel reluctantly agreed, the rest is history. Joel and Dawn married on November 3, 1978. They welcomed their first son, John Keith Tokach, on March 5, 1979, followed by Jeffrey Lee Tokach on February 2, 1981.

The family lived on the south side of Mandan until 1984. Joel had previously boomed out to California on his own and found better work opportunities—and much better weather. The family packed up and headed west.

Joel joined Iron Workers Local 377 but wasn't afraid to hustle work out of neighboring union halls either. After all, he had a wife and two boys to feed. Remember that shiny quarter from shining boots? Some things never changed. It may have ruffled a few feathers with other locals, but Joel was going to do whatever it took to provide for his family.

As John and Jeff grew older, sports became a year-round family activity.

When John signed up for his first season of soccer in California, the parents gathered for the first team meeting only to find out they didn't have a coach. Joel, who knew absolutely nothing about soccer, raised his hand anyway. Armed with nothing more than a clipboard, a whistle, and determination, he became a coach. Looking back, he was basically Ted Lasso before Ted Lasso was a thing (just not as positive and upbeat).

He coached soccer and baseball for years and was heavily involved in both boys' lives. He even volunteered as an assistant soccer coach at Ygnacio Valley High School during John's freshman and sophomore years. Even though John chose basketball instead of soccer, it gave Joel another excuse to keep tabs on him—and kick him in the butt if he needed it.

Joel eventually earned the nickname "B.D." (Bad Dad) from one of John's friends because of his firm, aggressive, no-nonsense parenting style that California kids weren't exactly used to. Joel loved the nickname and wore it like a badge of honor. Even toward the end of his life, he proudly told one of his nurses, "I'm B.D.—I earned that name."

Like his father before him, Joel rarely told you he loved you.

He showed you by showing up, from coaching your teams to answering your phone calls. When things were bad, he would be there.

During the mid-1990s, Joel suffered a serious on-the-job injury that forced him to pivot from working the iron to managing projects. Although he kept his Iron Worker credentials, his physical limitations restricted the welding work he could perform. Still, he always considered himself an Iron Worker first.

He went on to become a successful Project Manager, working for companies including Husky Crane, Bigge Crane, and finally Bragg Crane. Once again, Joel boomed out, managing projects throughout Northern California, Southern California, and Texas.

Joel took tremendous pride in every bridge and skyscraper he helped build. Whenever the family drove through San Francisco, he'd point to another building and proudly say, "I helped put that one up".

Later in life, Joel became a grandfather to Jackson and Frankie and began what would become the project he was most proud of—his grain bin home in Sanger, North Dakota.

Out of every building, bridge, and skyscraper he helped construct during his career, that grain bin house was the one he held closet to his heart, and he was proudest of.

He spent the final year of his life there and never returned to California after attending his son Jeff's Celebration of Life.

He never talked much about losing Jeff, but we all believe he carried that loss far heavier than he ever let anyone see.

Joel enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life, including scuba diving, bike riding, hiking (including Half Dome), cooking, snow skiing, gardening, hunting, wood carving, and watching football—especially the San Francisco 49ers and his beloved North Dakota State Bison.

But if you asked him his favorite hobby, the answer was easy.

Fishing.

He loved chasing walleye on the Missouri River and proudly mounted the "whopper" hanging in his California garage. He also enjoyed fishing trips to Alaska and Mexico, always returning home with a ton of delicious fish!

Joel's final resting place will be in the Sanger Cemetery, overlooking the Missouri River where he spent so many days fishing and just a short distance from the grain bin home he built with his own hands. He will rest beside his son, Jeff.

The family is heartbroken to say goodbye but grateful to know Joel lived life exactly the way he wanted. He worked hard, provided for his family, and built things that will stand for generations—his most important project being the grain bin home in Sanger, North Dakota.

His body was tired. His work here was done. He was ready.

Rest in peace, B.D.