Thomas Binek

Funeral Mass for Thomas ?T. J. ? Binek, 94, Dickinson, will be 10 a. m. on Saturday, January 5, 2008, at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church, Dickinson with the Rev. Dennis Schafer celebrating. Interment will be in the St. Joseph?s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be 12 noon to 9 p. m. on Friday at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil service at 7 p. m. Thomas J. ?T. J. ? Binek died of old age at St. Benedict?s Health Center on January 2, 2008. Thomas was born the son of Frank and Francis (Haberman) Binek on March 3, 1913 on a farm near Hebron, ND. His father mined coal and clay for the Hebron Brick Company. At the age of 13, the family moved to Lehigh where he worked in the Binek Coal Mine until the age of 21 when a medical condition forced him to leave the mining industry. In 1934 he moved to Dickinson to work for his brother George at Binek?s Recreation and Pool Hall located on East Villard. From 1935 until 1941 he worked as a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railroad. On June 24, 1940, he married Caroline Ihly of Dickinson, ND. Caroline died September 19, 2000. In 1941 he returned to Binek?s Recreation to work for his brother George and remained there until 1956. In 1956 he joined Standard Chemical and Manufacturing as a sales representative. His territory included Western North Dakota, Eastern Montana, and Northwestern South Dakota. After successfully developing this territory, he hired a sales force and opened and operated a warehouse to improve delivery and service to his customers. He retired from Standard Chemical in 1989. Throughout his entire life Thomas was an avid photographer who was able to capture much of Dickinson?s history on 18mm home movies along with the people who were part of it. He took great pride in his yard at 107 2nd Avenue East and enjoyed providing front row seating for many of Dickinson?s parades. He was a great fisherman, storyteller, and card player. He is one of the last surviving Charter members of the Dickinson Elk?s Lodge 1137. He will always be remembered for the never ending love he had for his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by one son, Thomas F (Donna) Binek, St. Louis, MO; five grandchildren, Rob (Patricia) Binek, Wendy (Mark) LaMar, Pamela (Angelo) Bufalino, Joshua Binek, MD and Carli Binek all of St. Louis, MO; four great grandchildren, Mitchell LaMar, Harrison LaMar, Thomas W. Binek, and Sammy Bufalino. One brother, Ted Binek, Dickinson, ND and two sisters, Mary Marsh and Monica Krance, Trenton, MO. He was preceded in death by his wife, Caroline (Ihly) Binek; one great grandchild, Joseph Christian LaMar; parents, Frank and Francis Binek; one sister, Martha Zastoupil; nine brothers, Mike, George, Steve, Martin, Daniel, Edward, Tony, Sylvester and Simon.


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Burial Date: January 5, 2008
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Saturday,St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, ND