Lucille Pikop, 83, Thief River Falls, MN

Lucille Pikop

Lucille Pikop, 83, of Thief River Falls, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo.
Lucille Marie Knutson was born April 21, 1924, in Eagle Lake Township in Ottertail County, the fourth of 10 children born to Louis and Mabel (Boe) Knutson. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls and attended school in Fergus Falls. She received a masters degree in raising her children and a Ph.D. in motherhood.
She married Marvin Kenneth Pikop on June 28, 1944. The couple eloped and were married in Moorhead. They made their home in Fergus Falls, and to this union they were blessed with seven children, Wesley, Marilyn, Barbara, Nancy, Kathy, Linda and Kelly.
In Fergus Falls, Lucille worked at the Fergus Falls State Hospital. In 1961, the family moved to Thief River Falls where she owned and operated Pikop's Cafe and later on worked at Oakland Park Nursing Home, Inga's Cafe and Carol's Cafe.
The only thing that could rival the love Lucille had for her children and family was her love of bingo, which she enjoyed with her son-in-law, Marvin Bannerman and granddaughter, Nancy Bannerman.
She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin in 1988; a daughter, Marilyn Bannerman in 2002; a son-in-law, Daniel Brouse in 1986; sisters, Beverly Olson, Marian Maurin; brothers, Oscar, Sidney, Warren, Richard and Robert.
Survivors include six children, Ralph Wesley (Judith) Pikop of Glendale, Ariz., Barbara (Daniel) Derosier and Nancy Brouse, all of Baudette, Kathy (Butch) Krantz of Forest Lake, Linda (Richard) Penning of Moorhead and Kelly (Michael) Cornacchione, Jr. of Clearwater, Fla.; a son-in-law, Marvin Bannerman of Thief River Falls; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; one sister, Shirlee (Clarence) Olson of Underwood; a brother, Gilford “Butch” (Linda) Knutson of Fergus Falls; and a plethora of nieces, nephews and relatives.
Visitation: Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home, and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday, at Zion Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls
Clergy: Rev. Henry Moyer
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls
Funeral Home: Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls