Felix was born on January 6, 1929 in Grafton, ND to Helen (Sass) and Felix Rudnik, Sr. and was baptized and confirmed at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw. He grew up on the family farm and would milk cows and collect eggs from their chickens every morning before going to grade school in Harriston Township and parochial school at the Warsaw Convent. He graduated from Minto High School in 1947.
Felix farmed with his father and brother, Rudy, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1951 during the Korean War. He was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and did basic training at Camp Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In December 1951, Felix was assigned to the 205 Signal Core and left by ship from Fort Lewis, Washington to Tokyo, Japan. From there he went to Seoul, Korea. He was promoted to Corporal in March 1953. Felix was honorably discharged in May 1953 from the U.S. Army. In May 2016, Felix traveled to Washington, D.C., with other veterans on the Honor Flight program. This trip honored American veterans for their service and sacrifices and Felix greatly cherished that experience.
Following his service during the Korean War, Felix returned to Minto and formed a farming partnership with his father and brother, Rudy. In the winter months, the brothers would go to North Hollywood, California and work in the Chevrolet Factory. Felix and Rudy were dedicated and hard working farming partners for over 66 years until Rudy’s passing in December 2019.
On September 5, 1959, Felix was united in marriage to Rita Stoltman at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Minto. The couple farmed in the Minto and Warsaw area and made their home in Minto where they raised their children.
Being a farmer included early mornings, long days, beautiful sunsets and late nights. Felix greatly enjoyed being in the fields to plant, cultivate and harvest his crops of certified seed potatoes, sugar beets, grain, beans and corn. For many years, Felix was going to retire but he never found the time to do that. Even breaking his hip and both of his ankles in farming mishaps and having chemo and surgery for kidney and bladder cancer didn’t slow him down. He bounced back every time and his doctors and nurses would often say he truly was “Felix the Cat” with nine lives.
In addition to farming, Felix was involved in various organizations. He was on the Minto Farmers Elevator Board of Directors, served as a supervisor of Harriston Township for many years, was on the North Dakota State Seed Department Board of Directors, was a member of American Crystal, Minto American Legion Post 201, the Grand Forks Elks Lodge and the Warsaw PNA.
Faith, family, farming and friends were important to Felix. He was well known for his radiant smile, his hardy handshake, his sense of humor and his beautiful cursive handwriting. He was a great storyteller and remembered things from the past like they happened yesterday. Life will never be the same without Felix’s presence, his wisdom and his delicious homemade dinners.
Felix will be dearly missed and remembered by his children and grandchildren -- daughter, Deb (Dan) Musser of Plymouth, MN and his sons, Dennis, Darrell and Darrin Rudnik of Minto. Grandchildren: Olivia, Natalie and Chad Musser. Emily (Richard) Short, Laura (Simon) Pulscher, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Zachary and Xavier Rudnik and their mother, Annette Rudnik. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Welcoming Felix to heaven is his loving and adored wife of over 60 years, Rita, who passed away in June 2020. They are smiling and dancing again to many wonderful polkas being played by Lawrence Welk and his band, which was their favorite. Also greeting Felix are his parents, his brother, Rudy, his sisters and brother-in-laws, Agraphine and John (Peep) Slominski and Adorine and Larry Eberhard, other relatives, friends and farming buddies who preceded him.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on Friday, October 28 at 10:30am. Visitation will be held from 9:00am until the time of the service. Burial will be at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Warsaw. Military rites will be presented by the Minto American Legion Post 201. A luncheon will be held at the Minto Community Center following the internment. Memorials are suggested to the St. Stanislaus Cemetery Fund and can be mailed to P.O. Box 316, Minto, ND 58261.