Royal Lee Boniek

Royal Lee Boniek 95 of Ellendale, ND died February 9, 2024 at Benedictine Living Community, Ellendale. Royal was born January 6, 1929 to John and Elma (Hansen) Boniek at home south of Guelph, ND. He started rural school at 5 years old, traveling by horse and buggy with his brother Elmer. His aunt, the teacher, needed one more student to justify a school. In 1935, during the Dust Bowl, John moved his family to a farm near Hawick, MN. Royal attended rural school thru 8^th grade then attended Ag School at Minnesota Morris. Royal was drafted by the US Army in 1953. After basic training at Camp Addibury, IN he went to Fort Carson, CO for advanced infantry training and served at the Military Prison at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. After army discharge, Royal began his life-long love affair with the hay and flax straw business, first with his father in the Red River Valley and later with his sons in the Dakotas. In the 1950’s Royal frequented dance halls in central Minnesota. There he met Alvera Radtke from Cosmos, MN. He asked her to dance and later to be his wife. They were married in 1958. Royal and Alvera were blessed with four children: Nancy, Debra, Mark and Perry. After livestock farming in rural Montevideo, MN, Royal moved his young family back to his roots, purchasing a farm east of Ellendale. There he resumed the custom flax straw business both for local farmers and for large paper companies. Royal was always proud of his part in printing US currency! Royal and Alvera traveled extensively in the US and abroad and loved cruising. To Royals grandchildren Grandpa was known for his full head of hair with “the wave”, frying perfect bacon and everything else to “crumpus”, Butterfinger candy bars and Squirt, cotton balls in his ears, his pancakes, playing solitaire and pinochle and his iconic laugh after telling a story. He sang “Walzing Matilda”, “That’s Amoré’” and “Put another Nickel In” while dancing around the kitchen. He always played “counting toesies” with the grandkids. To Alvera’s chagrin he always left the cupboard doors open! Royal is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Alvera; children: Nancy (David) Carlson of Tioga, ND, Debra Payne of Minnesota Lake, MN, Perry (Sue) Boniek of Ellendale; grandchildren: Daniel & David Payne, Dianna (Kyle) Heinze, Doris (David) Kitzing, Deszirae Payne, Chris (Nicole) Carlson, Shelby (Kasey) Knox, April (Brady) Weight, Lindsey Boniek, Courtney Boniek (and fiancé Eric Wonchoba); seven great granddaughters and one great grandson; sister: Renata Heartly, Carlsbad, CA; brother: Leo Boniek, Hawick, MN; in-laws: Gloria Radtke, Madeline Radtke, Gloria & Harvey Radtke, Sharon Boniek, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Royal was preceded in death by his parents John & Alma, son Mark, brother Elmer Boniek and sister Marcia.

The funeral is 1pm Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 702 Pine St (along Hwy 37), Hecla, SD with Pastor Tim Daub officiating. There will visitation 3-5:30pm with a prayer service at 5:30pm on Tuesday, February 13 at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial with Military Honors is at Ludden Cemetery, Ludden, ND. Royal’s service will be live streamed here on his obituary page. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.

To watch the service live: keep moving down this page and watch for a black box. At time of the service, click the red area to start the live stream. Please note the service is also recorded and saved here for viewing at a later time.