Paul Christopher Popiel

June 21, 1927 - December 28, 2019

Paul Christopher Popiel, age 92, entered into eternal life Saturday, December 28, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, January 3, 2020 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beach, North Dakota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at St. John’s Catholic Church with Father Dan Berg officiating. Rite of Committal with Military Honors will be held at 1:00 pm (CST) on Monday, January 6, 2020 at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Paul was born on June 21, 1927 on the family farm south of Wibaux, Montana, near St. Phillip’s. He was the twelfth of thirteen children born to John and Mary (Stefanowich) Popiel. Paul grew up in the St. Phillip’s and Wibaux area. While in high school, he worked for Tony Barthel as a farm hand. At the age of seventeen, he left school and entered the military, joining the Army Air Force and served for three years. After his discharge, he returned to the Wibaux area and worked for Ray Feragan in the Carlyle area and also Brengles in Beach, before going to work at Kennedy’s Drug Store in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota where he met his beautiful bride Merdythe Cook. Paul and Mert were married June 1, 1953 at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Sentinel Butte. They made their home in Sentinel Butte for fifty years; living in the same house they bought that was the telephone office, adding to it as their family grew. Dad always had a love for horses, especially Appaloosa, as well as raising cattle and always had a milk cow. He taught all of his kids’ good work ethics with all the chores that came along with the cows and horses. Paul also worked for By Hogoboom at his service station. He was a Fire Chief for several years as well as the town Marshall, a job his kids will remember as the times when the “bums” would come to the house and ask to sleep at the jail. He also spent nights up on Sentinel Butte hill guarding the towers and protecting them from getting shot at. Mom and Dad had a system, if he was needed at home, mom would turn the outside light off and on and he could see it from the butte and knew he was needed at home. He also worked at the Post Office, first as a clerk and later as a Rural Mail Carrier, a career he had for over forty years. They both held State Offices for Rural Carriers Association which took them all over the state and several different states for conventions. They will always treasure the many friends they acquired through the conventions. Paul was so proud of his family and is survived by his loving wife of sixty-six years, Mert; his seven children, Steve (Pam), Ken (Shelley), Mary (John) Egan, Chris (Elroy) Marcusen, Tyler, Marla (Mike) Zinsli and Karla (Dan) Jones; his thirteen grandchildren, Heather (Stacey) Baumann, Corinne (Travis) Risovi, Nathan (Kari) Popiel, Taylor (fiancé Megan) Egan, Jayden, Jayson (fiancé Tracey), Katie and Leah Marcusen, Morgan (Dan) Bettini, Mickayla (Josh) Rosard, Danny, Riley and Dakota Jones; his nineteen (soon to be twenty) great grandchildren, Malayna, Cara and Cole Baumann, Annie, Taytum, Jove, Ryder and Trey Risovi, Lydell Dutchuk, Jack, Ty and Hailey Popiel, Rhiannon and Zoie Herrod and Thea Egan, Corbin, Conner, Brynlee and Bentley Jones and soon to be baby, Bettini. He is also survived by his youngest sister, Betty Heinrich, brother-in-law, Rex Cook, sisters-in law, Rella Abernethy and Mary Cook as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Paul was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his siblings and their spouses, Rose (Bill) Boothe, Cecelia Popiel (age sixteen), Joe (Leona) Popiel, Helen (Bill) Dye, Stephen (Ella Mae), Frank (Rose), George (Marion), John (Lois), Ray (Connie and Helen), Regina Popiel, Delores (Don) Lunder, his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Clarence Heinrich, Phil Cook, Ann Cook, Marlyn Jefferies Langrud, Jim Jefferies, Gordon Langrud, Don Abernethy, Joe Cook and his mother and father-in-law, Taylor and Evelyn Cook. The family is so grateful for the visits and prayers from Father Dan and Deacon Jim W. as well as the Eucharist Minister that came to bring him communion. Paul also was so happy and grateful for the wonderful visits from the neighbors, especially Linda M., Vera K. and Germaine. Memorials, if desired, can be made to the Golden Valley Manor, Home on the Range or Hospice. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralshomes.com.