Pauline "Polly" Kniffen

Beloved Mother, Grandma, Great Grandma Pauline (Polly) Ekern Kniffen passed away peacefully in her sleep June 28th 2026 at the age of 89. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm with a 7:00 pm Vigil and Rosary Service on Sunday, July 5, 2026 at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton. Polly’s Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am, Monday, July 6 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Fr. Thi Pham officiating. Burial will be at St. Leo Catholic Cemetery in Tyndall, SD. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home of Yankton is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Pauline was born on October 2, 1936 near Utica SD to John and Mary (Sykora) Kutilek. She was the youngest of 11 children. She attended Utica grade school and Tabor High School. After graduation she worked at Gurneys until she married Richard (Dick) Ekern February 4 1957 at Sacred Heart Church in Yankton,SD. February 4th was also her Mom and Dad’s anniversary. Together Polly and Dick built a loving home and were blessed with four girls. They moved every 3 years due to Dicks job with UBC lumberyard. In 1971 they relocated to Tyndall, SD and opened Dick and Polly’s Bar, which they ran for several years before they purchased the Bottle Shop/Laundromat/Car Wash and ran that until 1985. They enjoyed 31 years together until Dicks passing in 1988. 

Every town Polly lived in she was very active in the church choir. Polly loved to sing Czech and Country music. She sang with the Don Kriz Band for many years. She was very involved in the alter society in Tyndall,SD, the Czech Days Polka Mass in Tabor, and the Easter Contata. She was involved with the VFW Ladies Auxillary and was a lifelong member of ZCBJ. She also loved to spend time at family gatherings big and small. 

Later in life she met Harold (Sonny) Kniffen. They were married in July of 1991. They lived in Yankton, SD until Sonny’s passing in February of 2014. 

Polly is survived by her daughters, Cindi (Brian) Goeden of Crofton, NE, Debbie (Myron) Kubel of Avon, SD, Judy (Mark) Dvoracek of Fargo, ND, Karen (Jeff) Wiese of Pipestone, MN; 3 step sons Doug (Karol) Kniffen of Wagner, SD, Robert (Lila) Kniffen of Cincinnati, OH, Bryon Kniffen of Orange City, IA; one step daughter in law Ladonna Kniffen of Yankton, SD; grandchildren Melissa McKinnon, Jason (Blake) Kubel, Jackie Kubel, Rachel (Payton) LaCivita, Christin (Brad) Besette, Travis Dvoracek, Zachary Wiese, Nicole (Trevor) Munkvold; great grandchildren, Owen, Heidi, Hope, Kohen, Evelyn and August; sister in law Marilyn Kutilek; and many nieces and nephews.

Polly is proceeded in death by her parents, John and Mary Kutilek, husbands, Richard Ekern and Harold Kniffen, siblings, Emil (Josie) Kutilek, Ben (Violet) Kutilek, Jim Kutilek, John Kutilek, Agnes (Joe) Kortan, Eileen (Fenner & Dave) Kortan, Bessie (Steve) Petrik, Albina (Joe) Hejna, Marie (Glen) Lane-Randel, Helen (Harold) Rempp (Joe) Zdenek, great grandson, Chase Besette, mother and father in law Alfred and Blanche Ekern, and stepson Bruce Kniffen.