Joel Nathaniel Goplen, age 92, passed away on August 26, 2008 at the Cooperstown Medical Center in Cooperstown , ND.

Joel, son of Daffin A. and Marie (Follingstad) Goplen, was born November 3, 1915 on the family farm near Binford , ND . He was confirmed at Westley Lutheran Brethren Church near Cooperstown . He graduated from Binford High School in 1932. Joel attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and graduated from its School of Law in 1938. He returned home to farm with his father.

Joel married Winifred Olson on November 26, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Binford. They resided in Binford where he continued farming and ranching. Over the years, he was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church , served on the Binford School Board, and was a member of the Binford City Council for thirty years. Joel was the Griggs County Justice for 20 years, from 1963 to 1983. He was a member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota for over sixty years. In August 1979, Joel was appointed by the Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court to represent the state's county justices at the American Bar Association's annual convention in Dallas , Texas .

His interests were family, church, school, community, reading, music and traveling in the United States and abroad.

He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by his wife, Winifred; son David (Cheryl Goodrich-Goplen), Minnetonka, MN; daughter Cynthia Goplen (Michael Roos), Plymouth, MN; daughter Susan Goplen (Kevin Broveleit), West Seattle, WA; granddaughters Sarah and Emily Goplen; grandsons Erik and Alex Roos; and granddaughter Dora Broveleit. Other survivors are nephew Arman Goplen; nephew Bruce (Donnelle) Goplen; and niece Judith (Harold) Ovre.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ida Goplen and brothers Arnold Goplen and Maynard Goplen.

The family is grateful for the care and support given to Joel and his family by the Cooperstown Medical Center Staff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the charity of the donor's choice.

Funeral services for Joel will be Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Trinity Lutheran Church of Binford, ND.   Officiating will be Reverend Cheri Danielson.  Organist will be Theresa Fiebiger.  Soloist will be Shelly Zimprich.  Casketbearers will be Duane Feiring, Bob Delfs, Warren Southward, Ken Gilbertson, Lannes Edlund and Fred Adrian.  Visitation will be Friday, August 29, 2008 from 4 PM to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM in the Cooperstown Funeral Chapel and continue one hour prior to services in the church. Interment will be in the Binford Cemetery . Arrangements with the Cooperstown Funeral Chapel.