Francisco Anthony Knopik joined his wife, Sandi, in the Father’s Heavenly Kingdom on May 14, 2024. He passed away peacefully at home on the family farm, “Whispering Spirit Ranch.” Francisco’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Fr. Robert Shea as celebrant. Interment will take place at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m. with Deacon Dan Tuhy presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday.
Francisco, affectionately known as ‘Cisco, was born March 30, 1950 in Dickinson. He was the 8th of 12 children. As a young boy he enjoyed time building forts out of sticks, riding bike, and caring for animals. ‘Cisco loved to tell the story of adopting his dog, Shadow. The moment his mother agreed to let him have a dog, he ran to his best friend Jimmy’s house, crawled underneath the porch (with his friend), and grabbed the first puppy he could reach.
‘Cisco graduated from North Dakota State College of Science, in Wahpeton, where he met his future wife, Sandra Kukla. It was love at first sight when he saw her beautiful smile from across the room. They were married on August 19, 1972. Their love grew stronger each day over the 50 years of their marriage. He wrote many love notes and poems for her and would often leave them on her pillow or other places. As she grew sick, he never saw caring for her as a burden; it was simply acts of love.
From that love Sandi and Francisco had four children, Shad, Sheri, Paul, and James. In their early marriage they worked and made a home in several towns: Dickinson, Hettinger, Manning, Bismarck, Hazen and eventually moved back to Manning, which was originally Sandi’s family homestead. They named the farm “Whispering Spirit Ranch” after a favorite bible verse (1 Kings 19: 11-13).
‘Cisco navigated many professions including operating his personal businesses, Knife River Industries (selling oxygen masks for confinement barns) and Whispering Spirit Meats; working as a machinery transportationist, TV repair at Sears and Bogner Appliance, a baker at the Briquette Factory, director of radiology at Hazen hospital, farmer/rancher in wheat, Duroc hogs, buffalo, elk and Angus cattle. However, ‘Cisco was never defined by his job.
‘Cisco was a member of Tracy Mountain Wood Carver’s Club, active in Marriage Encounter, and a Eucharistic Minister at St Martin’s Parish in Hazen and St Joseph’s in Killdeer. He appreciated watching the sky for Northern lights, meteor showers, lightning storms, and most recently airplane spotting. He enjoyed walking throughout the land looking for arrowheads and antlers in the spring. ‘Cisco loved watching trees mature, flowers bloom, wildlife multiply and grow, but above all he loved his family. He was a loving husband and amazing father and grandfather. He lived a life that could never be described in a few short paragraphs.
Francisco is reunited in death with his wife, Sandi; parents, Martin, and Elizabeth (Gawrylow) Knopik; brothers-in-law, Gene, Lou, and Lee; and his children and grandchildren that were lost through miscarriage.
He is survived by his children, Shad (Heidi), Phoenix, AZ, Sheri (Shawn) Gunwall, Center, Paul (Brandy) Dickinson, and James (Tiffany) Bismarck; grandchildren, Nathaniel, Michael, Gabrielle, Isabelle, Kael, Hunter, Gage, Ryker, Winter, Angel, William, Hope, (baby on the way), Elijah, Jayven, Zayden, and Kohen; and step-granddaughter, Deidra Jung and her children Braelee, Taimyn, and Maliya; siblings, Simon (Isolyn), WA, Mary (John), Bismarck, Benedette, NY, Lee, MN, Connie (Joe), WA, Boniface (Leona), Dickinson, Ellie (Ray), MN, Al (Barb), WA, Joe (Martha), Belfield, Cindy (Bob), Dickinson, and Lucy (Frank), South Heart.
