Deacon Martin Knopik, 96, formerly of Belfield, died Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Deacon Martin’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2011 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Belfield, with Fr. Shannon Lucht as the celebrant. Visitation will be on Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. There will be a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Martin Anthony Knopik was born January 10, 1915, on his grandparents’ farm in Morrison County, near Flensburg, Minn., the son of Mike and Mary (Tandaski) Knopik. The family moved to the Dickinson area where Martin attended grade school at Iota School District #5 and Model High School, graduating in 1935. He went on to attend Dickinson State Teachers College where he received his teaching credentials.
Martin married Elizabeth Gawrylow on August 5, 1937, at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church north of Belfield. Together they lived and farmed for four years in Dunn County near Manning and then for 38 years south of Belfield in Stark County. During this time, Martin had also taught school in Billings, Dunn and Stark County and St. Bernard’s Parochial School in Belfield. They remained on the farm until 1980 when they moved into Belfield and eventually into Dickinson in 1992.
Martin attended the Deaconate program from 1980 to 1982 when he was ordained as a Permanent Deacon on August 27, 1982. He served the parish of St. Bernard’s until 1992. He was a school board member for the Belfield district from 1956 to 1960, a Stark County Commissioner from 1960 to 1964, belonged to the Farmers Union, KC’s, and served on the Parish Council at St. Bernard’s for several years. In his early years he enjoyed taxidermy, riding horseback, playing cards and participating in a good game of softball.
Martin is survived by 12 children, Simon (Isolyn) Knopik, Kennewick, Wash., Mary (John) Kraljic, Minot, Benedette Knopik, Jackson Heights, N.Y., Lee (Gene) Mikolai, Blue Earth, Minn., Connie (Joe) Haverluk, Kennewick, Wash., Boniface (Leona) Knopik, Dickinson, Ellie (Ray) Wattenhofer, Park Rapids, Minn., Francisco (Sandi) Knopik, Manning, Alban (Barbara) Knopik, Buckley, Wash., Joe (Martha) Knopik, Belfield, Cindy (Bob) Splichal, Dickinson, and Lucy (Frank) Hurt, South Heart; one brother, Hubert Knopik, Dickinson; two sisters, Eleanor Bren, Dickinson, and Frances (Jerry) Meduna, Manning; two sisters-in-law, Magdaline Knopik and Genevieve Franchuk, Dickinson; 44 grandchildren; and 66 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth on May 11, 2001; his parents; four brothers; one sister; one sister-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and one granddaughter.
