Father Wilfrid Splonskoski

Memorial Mass: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.

Fr. Wilfrid Splonskowski, OSB, 82, died on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickinson, N.D., due to complications after hip replacement surgery.

Fr. Splonskowski was born in Braddock, N.D., on Aug. 2, 1925, to Francis and Elizabeth Kapperman Splonskowski. He as born into a family of six boys and five girls. Three of the boys became monks and priests of Assumption Abbey. Three of the girls became sisters of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, S.D. After his elementary education, Fr. Splonskowski came to Assumption Abbey for high school. He entered the novitiate in 1945 and made vows on July 11, 1946. After completing his seminary studies he was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1952.

Fr. Splonskowski worked in the Abbey schools. He attended Notre Dame during the 1955-56 school year. He was appointed pastor of St. Clement’s Church, Haymarsh, N.D., on Aug. 27, 1956. On June 6, 1958 tragedy hit while Fr. Splonskowski was on vacation with his brother, Fr. George, and others. They were hit head on near Vivian, S.D. Fr. George was killed and Fr. Splonskowski was unconscious for about four weeks. On July 17, 1959 he was appointed assistant pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ontario, Calif., to help his recuperation.From 1962 to 1982 he served in various parishes in the Diocese of Bismarck, including Solen and Odense, St. Stephen and St. Placidus in Stark County, and Selfridge. In addition he was chaplain at the Garrison Hospital from October 1972 to January 1973. On July 1, 1982 he returned to the Abbey. In 1983 he resumed pastoral work at St. Elizabeth’s, Lefor with its mission of St. Stephen’s. Later he had Lefor, St. Thomas, Gladstone and St. Philip’s, Hirschville. From July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1998, he was pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, New Hradec with St. Philip’s, Hirshville as a mission. On July 1, 1998 he was appointed to St. Philip’s Church, Scobey with its missions at Flaxville, Glentana and Peerless. On July 1, 2000, he was reassigned as parochial vicar to Sacred Heart Church, Miles City, with residence at Sacred Heart Church in Terry. A serious injury to his leg from a fall on May 30, 2005, resulted in his being hospitalized and in rehab until Aug. 2, 2005, when he returned to the Abbey to retire. His recovery continued and he did quite well. He was content at the Abbey and his confreres enjoyed his happy and accepting ways.

Fr. Splonskowski is survived by two sisters, Sister Anita Splonskowski, OSB, Pierre, S.D., and Rose (Ted) Riehl, Flasher, N.D. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and three sisters.A

Vigil Service will Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at 7 p.m. and a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in the Abbey Church at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007. Interment will be made in the Abbey cemetery.

A memorial mass will be celebrated Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.