Julius Goplin, 99, of Hettinger, ND passed away at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger on Sunday morning, January 10, 2016.

Funeral service will be Friday, January 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hettinger Lutheran Church. Rev. Kathleen Dettmann will officiate and burial will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes in Hettinger and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Friday morning.

Julius Edward Goplin, youngest of five, was born in Regent, ND on February 5th, 1916 to Joseph and Elizabeth Goplin. Joseph passed away in December of 1918 from influenza during the great influenza epidemic. Elizabeth remarried several years after his death to Olaf Dangerud, where she had five more children. Julius attended country school until 8th grade, at which time he went to Zumbrota, MN where he worked at his Uncle Henry Goplin's dairy farm. A few years later he returned home to work at the South Dakota Coal Mine, located in Haynes, ND, where he shoveled coal for $0.25 a ton.

Julius started his trucking business when he left the mines in the early 1940s, and later owned the local bowling alley in town. In 1944 he started his custom harvesting business, combining from Texas and making his way back to North Dakota. Along the way, he made lifelong friends in Brewster and Manter Kansas, combining for them for over 40 years.

Julius met Opal Mandal in 1945 when she was working in the Farmer's Union Co-op Store, and married a year later. They would go on to have four children—James, Joan, Sandra and Carla. Julius was known for his staunch work ethics; he loved his family and work, but his passion was baseball. Julius played left field with the Hettinger Bears for many years, and was a member of the North Dakota State Champion team of 1949.

Julius finally retired in his early 80s. Throughout the years, Julius was very active in the community. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Eagles, served on the Hettinger Volunteer Fire Department for 40 years, and active member of the Hettinger Lutheran Church.

Julius was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth, and siblings Harry, Minnie, Carl, Ethlyn, Orville, Laverne, Viola, Arvin and Marvin. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Opal; children James (Joan) Goplin, Hettinger, Joan Schmaltz, Hettinger, Sandra (Gale) Hofland, Alta Loma, Carla (Dennis) Ecker, Hettinger; 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials are preferred to the Hettinger Volunteer Fire Department.