IN MEMORY of the Rev. Erich E. Bonikowsky of Carrington, North Dakota

The Rev. Erich E. Bonikowsky was born on November 12, 1908, in Poltanitz, Poland, the oldest son of Rev. and Mrs. E. J. Bonikowsky. Six years later the family was sent into banishment to Turgeisker, Oblast. Who can tell of the inhuman treatment, starvation, and cold, that had to be endured for six years!

After the family was released from banishment, they settled in Wolhynien where our brother began his studies in earnest. He could read fluently at the age of six. He naturally took to learning and drawing. At this time he began the studies of languages, such as Russian, German and Ukrainian.

He accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior and was baptized by his father on June 2, 1922. He graduated from the grade schools with cum laude. The following semester he entered high school where he studied the French language. The studies were continued until 1927, at the age of 18, when the Bonikowsky family emigrated to Canada.

For some years our brother felt the urge to enter the gospel ministry. In 1929 he answered this call by enrolling as a student in the Rochester Baptist Seminary from which institution he graduated in 1934. In June of the same year during the session of the Dakota Conference convening at Martin, No. Dak., he was ordained into the gospel ministry.

Hereupon, he began a successful two-year ministry in our church in Whitemouth, Manitoba. Desiring to be better prepared for his chosen work, he again took up studies and this time in Sioux Falls College, graduating in one year with a B.A. degree. This was followed with several years of study at the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School where he received the degree of B.D. He responded favorably to a call from the Pleasant Valley Church, No. Dak., and entered upon what promised to be a happy service. The church and pastor soon experienced a forward movement and many were added to the church.

At this time the Lord gave him an equally gifted wife in Miss Ella Albus. They were united in marriage on May 27, 1940. After a brief honeymoon, they made their home in the parsonage in Carrington.

Our friend had been ailing for some time. An operation for appendicitis and a change of climate did not favor his health. Soon after Christmas he was rushed to the Trinity Hospital in Minot, No. Dak. After a thorough examination and several X rays, besides two blood transfusions, the attending physician gave a shattering verdict which proved itself as tragic as it sounded. He was transferred to the Carrington Hospital where all possible comforts were employed.

The funeral service was in charge of our brother's friend, the Rev. J. Ralph McNiel, pastor of the Federated Church of Carrington. The Rev. G. Schroeder read the Scripture lesson and the Rev. J. Kepl led in prayer. Several musical selections were a comfort to those in attendance. The Rev. K. Gieser spoke in German and the Rev. J.R. McNiel spoke in the English language. The pallbearers were the Revs. G. Pust, P. Hunsicker, R. Kaiser, D. Klein, A. Bibelheimer, and N. McCoy. A brief committal service was conducted at the cemetery in Carrington where the remains shall rest to "That Great Day."


A.W. Bibelheimer, Reporter.