To view the funeral service, click on the "play' button below, the service will play after the slideshow.

James "Jim" Lee Sopoci, age 89 of Mitchell, SD died Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Edgewood Memory Care. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Monday, September 19, 2022 at First Lutheran Church with burial and military rites at Servicemen's Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sunday, September 18, 2022 at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Jim was born November 10, 1932 in Tripp, SD to Steve & Anna (Sladek) Sopoci.  Jim grew up in Tripp and graduated from Tripp High School in 1950.  He took part in many activities such as band, chorus, and lettered in football, basketball and track.

He graduated from Tripp and enrolled at Southern Teachers College in Springfield, SD where he continued playing football and basketball all four years.  Immediately after graduating in June of 1954 he was drafted into the Army where he completed military law and administration of military justice courses at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.  The then went to stenographer school at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana.  He then was a court reporter in Arlington, VA beginning in 1955 and worked there until he was discharged in 1956.

He then returned to South Dakota and began his teaching and coaching career in Corsica, SD from 1956 to 1958.  Jim then was hired at Mitchell Junior High where he taught and coached from 1958 to 1960.  He continued his own education and attained his masters from South Dakota State University in Brookings and was hired as the principal at Longfellow Elementary School.  From there, he moved to become principal at Litchfield Elementary School and at one point served as the principal at Eugene Field Elementary School concurrently until he moved solely to Eugene Field Elementary School.  He loved children, teaching and all things school and ultimately retired in 1988.  He then became a realtor and finally retired in 2001.

Jim enjoyed bowling, golf, hunting pheasants, geese and deer, gardening and watching Mitchell Kernel sports and DWU volleyball.   He also refereed junior high and high school football games with the highlight being able to ref the Class B Championship game in the Dakota Dome in Vermillion.

Amongst many community and philanthropic groups, Jim was a member of First Lutheran Church for 64 years and served on many committees.  He was also a lifetime Elks Member for over 60 years and served as the chairman on the Elks Scholarship Program for many years.

He married Bonita Wagner on June 1, 1968 and had two children, Judson Sopoci and Tiffany Fokken.  He was a proud grandfather of Alexander Sopoci & Andrew Sopoci and enjoyed spending time with them and watching them grow and was so proud of their many accomplishments.  Jim also enjoyed playing 'proxy grandfather' to Jason, Jacob, Joshua & Jared Schmidt.

Jim is survived by his wife Bonita (54 years of marriage), son Judson, grandsons Alexander & Andrew – all of The Hills, TX.  Daughter Tiffany (Fokken), son-in-law Scott (aka Henry) Fokken.  And many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Steve & Anna as well as his 7 sisters & 5 brothers.

Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church Property Committee or the charity of your choice.