Lenora (Schimke) Bienek Collection

Collection

Identifier: GRHC 003

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Lenora (Schimke) Bienek Collection consists of materials relating to the Daniel Schimke family of Wells County, North Dakota, dated between 1898 and 1996. The Book Series contains two theology books. The Newspaper Series contains four newspapers; these newspapers are written in Ukrainian, German, or Russian. The Certificate Series contains two marriage certificates. Daniel Schimke was married twice and these certificates are from those marriages; they are written in German.

Dates

1898 - 1996

Creator

Bienek, Lenora. (Person)

Access

Access to the physical collection is available upon request. Request must be made at least three (3) business days prior to ndsu.grhc@ndsu.edu.

Copyright

Copyrights to items in this collection remain with original copyright holders or are in the public domain.

Biography

Lenora Schimke was born on January 16, 1916 in Harvey, ND, daughter of Daniel Schimke and Mathilda (Knopp) Schimke; she died August 1, 2001 in Harvey, ND. Lenora married Carroll Bienek February 19, 1939 in Harvey, ND. He was born December 25, 1916 in Drake, ND, son of Fred Paul Bienek and Nellie (Larson) Bienek. Carroll died January 21, 1971 in Harvey, ND. Both are buried in the Sunnyside Cemetery at Harvey, ND.

Lenora’s father Daniel Schimke (1876-1945) was born in Kulm, Bessarabia, Russia, son of Simon Schimke and Christina Isaak. Daniel’s first wife was Elizabeth “Lisa” Mend/ Mindt (1880-1904?). Elizabeth was born in South Dakota of parents born in Russia. They had four children. Lenora’s mother, Daniel’s second wife, Mathilda Knopp was born in Kulm, Bessarabia, Russia in 1888, to Michael Knopp and Louisa (Bich) Knopp. Daniel and Mathilda had twelve children. Mathilda died in 1980.

Lenora’s grandfather Simon Schimke (1850-1943) was born in Bessarabia, Russia. He was orphaned at a young age. About 1893, leaving relatives behind, he emigrated to Parkston, SD and later to Kulm, ND. Simon and Christina (1852-1921) married in Bessarabia in 1844 and had nine children.