Sylvester Binek

Sylvester “S. A.” Binek, age 91, died of old age at St. Luke’s Nursing Home, Dickinson, ND on February 17, 2003.


A Memorial Service for Sylvester “S. A. ” Binek will be Saturday, April 12, 2003, 1:00 p. m. at Stevenson-Mischel-Olson Chapel. A reception will follow the service at Stevenson-Mischel-Olson and graveside service being held at 2:30 p. m. in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dickinson.


Sylvester was born the son of Frank and Francis (Haberman) Binek on August 17, 1911 on a farm near Elgin, ND. He was 6 months old when his family moved to the vicinity of Hebron, ND. His father operated a coal mine and clay bank for the Hebron Brick Company. At the age of 15, the family moved to Lehigh. He worked in the family mine until the age of 24. In 1935, the North Dakota Workman’s Compensation Commission appointed him State Mine Inspector. On September 23, 1939, he married Louise Snortland, of Tolna, ND. Louise died on March 30, 1978. When WWII broke out he resigned to accept a position as Federal Agent governing ND and SD to control the storage, handling and transportation of all explosives. After the war he owned and operated the Golden Maid Cafe in Bismarck. After 3 years he sold the business and went prospecting in Wyoming, Utah and Washington. The family lived in Colville, WA for five years. He moved to Dickinson in 1960 and worked for the State Highway Department until his retirement in 1976.


In 1997, he wrote and published “Coal Miner’s Son”, a family history and the story of his experiences in early mining in North Dakota. He was a Golden Eagle Member of the Eagles Club of Bismarck.


He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sandie (Thomas) House of Williamsburg, VA and sons and daughters-in-law, Frank (Kelly), and Gary (Clova) all of Las Vegas, NV. Grandchildren; Roberta Kirk of Peachtree City, GA and Bradley and Bryan Binek, both of Las Vegas, NV; one great-grandchild, Kevin Kirk; two step grandchildren, Erin Haver and Tara Chambers; two sisters, Mary Marsh and Monica Krance, both of Trenton, MO; two brothers, Tom and Ted Binek, both of Dickinson, ND and special friend, Verna Halter, of Dickinson. Sylvester’s parents, his wife, sister, Martha Zastoupil and brothers, Mike, Martin, George, Daniel, Tony, Edward, and Steve preceded him in death.


In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to St. Luke’s Home, 242 10th Street West, Dickinson, ND 58601.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: April 12, 2003
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2003, Stevenson-Mischel-Olson Chapel, Dickinson