Gilman H. Goplen

Gilman H. Goplen, 96 of Cooperstown, ND, formerly of Hannaford, ND, passed away June 8, 2013 at Griggs County Care Center in Cooperstown, ND. Gilman was born November 12, 1916 on the family farm near Hannaford, ND, the son of John and Anne (Odegaard) Goplen. He attended rural school in Greenfield Township and he graduated from Hannaford High School in 1933. He married Vivian Skjeret June 28, 1953 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Walum, ND. The couple farmed near Walum, ND until his retirement in 1982. He lived for 90 years on the family farm in which he was born until the couple moved to Cooperstown in 2006. Gilman played an active role in his community. He served on the Greenfield Township Board, Hannaford School Board, St. Olaf Church Council, and the Griggs County Hospital Board. During Gilman’s life, he loved to play baseball, golf, bowl, hunt, fish, and garden. He also enjoyed watching any sporting event, listening to country music, and keeping up with the latest technologies. But above all else, he valued time spent with family. Gilman is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Vivian of Cooperstown, ND; three sons, Neal (Astrid) Goplen, Pasco, WA, Gary (Debi) Goplen, Carrington, ND, and Jon (Susan) Goplen, Hannaford, ND; two daughters, Ellen (Herb) Doele, Fargo, ND, and Susan (Matthew) Stoltz, Bismarck, ND; 13 grandchildren, Jared Goplen, Blake (Hailey) Goplen, Shanna (Garner) Alzheimer, Freja Elrod, Chase (Leann) Goplen, Brianne (Sam) Partlow, Tyler (Janne) Dale Hauger, Collin and Alex Hauger, Dylan and Alison Goplen, and Megan and Sarah Stoltz; 2 great-grandchildren; 6 sisters-in-law, Mary Goplen, Las Vegas, NV, Joanne Goplen, Fargo, ND, Connie (Duane) Louden, Cooperstown, ND, Myrna (Bart) Thompson, Bozeman, MT, Fern Skjeret, Walum, ND, and Jeanette Skjeret, Jamestown, ND; and one brother-in-law, Loren (Jerrie) Skjeret, Billings, MT. Gilman was preceded in death by his brothers, Orville and Carl; and one grandson Chad. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 11:00 am at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Walum, ND. There will be a Visitation held Tuesday, June 11, 2013 from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home in Cooperstown, ND and will resume one hour prior to the funeral service, at the church. Burial will be at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Cemetery.