WARREN ZAKOPYKO November 28, 1940 – January 04, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Send Sympathy Gifts View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Warren Zakopyko, 78, Balfour, passed away Friday, January 4, 2019 at Trinity Hospital in Minot. Warren was born on November 28, 1940 in Minot, the son of Edward and Irene (Sitch) Zakopyko. He grew up on the family farmstead north of Kief and attended elementary school in Kief before transferring to Balfour Public School in 1955.
He graduated from Balfour High School in 1958. In October of 1958 he enlisted in the US Navy and served aboard the Destroyer Escort Cory before being transferred to the USS Tidewater, a repair ship. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in November of 1961 and remained an active life member of the Butte American Legion Post #270.
Following his discharge, he worked various construction jobs until 1964 when he began farming with his father. Warren married Elaine Hoffer on June 20, 1964 in Butte. He farmed, milked cows, and raised range cows until November of 2006.
He had one of the first round hay-balers in the area and did custom baling from 1975-2005. Through the years he made thousands of round bales with just one baler. He also planted trees for the Soil Conservation Service, even fabricating a custom tree planter.
He attended ND State School of Science in Wahpeton from 1969-1972, earning a degree in machine tooling. He used his trade, learned from the Navy and Wahpeton, to do welding and machine work in his farm shop for many area farmers. He created many ornamental pieces for Elaine’s Garden, Jorie’s yard and various gates and signs for area cemeteries.
Warren helped form the Kief Farmers Elevator and served on the board of directors for many years. He was clerk/treasurer for Land Township from 1972 until his passing. He read meters for Verendrye Electric Cooperative for 25 years.
Warren was a member of the Balfour Lutheran Church until its closing in 2016 and served on the church council for many years. He then became a member of the Liberty Baptist Church of Kief where he looked forward to attending church every Sunday, even when he wasn’t feeling well. He served on the Butte School Board for two terms, was a director for the rural fire district for Land Township, served on the Drake Creamery board, was president of the Kief School Alumni for its 75th anniversary and president of Kief Cemetery board.
Warren was an active member of the Drake Threshing Association and served as their president for five years. He was currently serving as president of the North Dakota State Steam Threshing Association. He traveled to many threshing shows around the U.S. and Canada and especially enjoyed it when his family (sometimes reluctantly) accompanied him.
He loved visiting with people and seeing the old machinery. He was also an avid toy collector. Warren was a very active volunteer with Farm Rescue from 2007 until 2017 and took great pride in helping other farmers in need.
Once retired, he enjoyed traveling the U.S. with his wife and appreciated their time together. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elaine; his children, Paul (Lisa) Zakopyko of Minot, Jorie (Lon) Falcon of Trenton, and Gena Zakopyko of Minot; grandchildren, Sawyer, Cullen, Rio, Kenzie, Dawson, and Marshall; and brothers Ryan (Diane) of WA and Jim of WA. He was preceded in death by his parents, cherished son Dean, and most recently his sister-in-law Cindy.
Visitation: Thursday from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. at Nelson Funeral Home in Drake. Funeral: Friday, January 11, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva.
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