Arnold “Arnie” S. Binek, 73, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Arnold’s Celebration of Life Service will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at the Stark County Fairgrounds, Dickinson.
Arnie was born July 14, 1947 to Steven and Eva (Ott) Binek in Dickinson. Arnie was a lifetime resident of Stark County having been raised in the Lehigh community near the Binek Coal Mine. Arnie attended St. Joseph’s Elementary and Dickinson Trinity where he excelled as a student athlete, graduating and earning the H.J. Weinbergen award for outstanding athlete his senior year in 1966.
Arnie chose his hometown Dickinson State College, currently Dickinson State University, to continue his education and athletic career. While attending college, Arnie married his high school sweetheart Linda Wolf on May 28, 1968. Arnie would go on to graduate from Dickinson State College in 1971 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Physical Education and Earth Science. Based on his outstanding achievements in the sports of football and wrestling during his college years, Arnie would garner another H.J. Weinbergen award in 1968, and was later inducted into the Dickinson State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
Arnie began his teaching career in the fall of 1971 at Dickinson High School, where he would remain for 32 years. In addition to his teaching duties at Dickinson High, Arnie served as the head wrestling coach for a period of time and was instrumental in implementing the block system schedule.
Arnie and Linda’s family grew by one in 1977 with the arrival of Beau. Their family would expand again in 1980 when Marya was brought home. In 1977 Arnie and Linda purchased “The Binek Ranch”. The ranch is where Arnie’s greatest qualities of hard work, accountability and loyalty would be on display and instilled in his children. For the majority of his years on the ranch, Arnie partnered with his brother Darrell in the cattle business. This partnership was both a labor of love and source of pride for Arnie.
In addition to teaching and ranching, Arnie was involved in numerous civic and athletic organizations. Whether it be as a coach, board member or director, Arnie was always willing and able to help. When he wasn’t busy haying, working cattle or hauling irrigation pipe, Arnie enjoyed various activities such as fishing, hunting, attending rodeos, listening to cowboy poetry readings and cheering on the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Arnie was also quite the dancer and was known to enjoy polkas and waltzes.
Arnie particularly loved sharing his passion for horse riding with his granddaughter Korbyn and watching his grandson Brenner’s wrestling matches.
As a lifelong teacher, Arnie was always willing to share his knowledge of various topics with anyone who had the pleasure of spending time with him.
Arnie is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda; his children, Beau Binek; Marya (Travis) Jimison; grandchildren, Korbyn and Brenner Jimison; siblings, Gordie (Paula) Binek; Darrell (Linda) Binek; Geneva (Todd) Ost; lifelong friends, Rex Cook; LeRoy Boespflug; and his extended Wolf family. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a soon to be established memorial in memory of Arnie.
