Frances M. Meduna, 88, Manning, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 19, 2024 under the care of her daughter. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Frances at 10 a.m., Friday, April 26, 2024 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, New Hradec with Fr. Joseph Evinger as celebrant. Interment will follow at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, New Hradec. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., Thursday with Fr. Joseph Evinger presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday.
Frances M. Knopik was born June 16, 1935 in Dickinson to Mike and Mary (Tandeski) Knopik. She was the youngest of nine children and was raised on the family farm near Manning.
Frances married Jerry J. Meduna on October 1, 1956 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dickinson. After they were married, they attended Dickinson State College together for a short time. They operated the Knopik Farm by Manning as well as acreage by Plaza, ND. In 1958, they purchased the Knopik Homestead by Manning where they lived the rest of their lives. They were blessed with two daughters.
She received her teaching certificate and spent her whole life teaching or substituting at various places around Western ND. These schools included Manning No. 2, Prospect District, Willman District, Tabor No. 2, St. Vincent’s at Mott, St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s in Dickinson, Iota No. 2 and 4, St. John Bosco Private Christian School north of Dickinson, and Mission of Guardian Angels north of Dickinson. Frances also monitored homeschooled families throughout the years. She was passionate about her teaching of young minds. Frances was fair, compassionate, and expected the individual to be the best person they could be. Many lives were touched by her incredible wisdom.
Frances loved to garden and grew a bountiful crop of vegetables every year. She also had a beautiful strawberry patch. She had a soft spot for small animals (especially orange kittens), and raised chickens, turkeys, and geese.
She was a writer and wrote many lists. She also wrote many letters, not only to Jerry when they were courting, but also to her parents and sisters. She advocated for the underdog and wrote many letters to editors of newspapers and politicians. As a member of the Historical Society, she was instrumental in getting Dauntless Dunn (a compilation of stories of families throughout Dunn County) written and published.
Frances was very Pro-Life and spent many hours defending the unborn. She was also involved in Catholic Daughters and St. Pius Verein Society. She and Jerry had a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and they gave His picture as a wedding gift to all their nieces and nephews.
She was in the care of her loving daughter, Mary, for the last eight years of her life.
Frances loved all her family members very much and is survived by one daughter, Mary Lund, Manning; five grandchildren, Casey Lund, Dusty (Leigh) Lund, Levi (Danielle) Lund, Taylin (Natalie) Gessele, and Sebastian Gessele; five great-grandchildren. Riley Lund, Jori Lund, Hattie Lund, Logan Lund, and McCoy Lund; son-in-law, Jason Gessele; sister-in-law, Genevieve Franchuk; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry (January 7, 2016); daughter, Carmae Gessele (July 8, 2001); parents; siblings, John (Magdalene), Martin (Betty), Antonia (Pete) Polensky, Eleanor (Frank) Bren, Hubert (Mary), Fr. Thomas Knopik, Stephen, and infant brother, Sebastian.
