Gottfried was born in September of 1897 the son of Martin and Christine Koepplin of Odessa, South Russia. He moved to Herreid, South Dakota in 1902 with his parents and to Elgin in 1903 where he attended schools. He moved to Mandan in 1948 before moving to Bismarck in Dec. of 1967. He married Beatta Stevahn, in 1921 in Elgin. He was a bridge foreman for Morton for 15 years before retiring in 1964. He died in May of 1968, on Saturday, he was in poor health for the past three years. Services were held at First Lutheran Church at 2:00pm May 14, 1968, in Mandan. Rev. Stephen Knudsen officiated and final resting place, Mandan Union Cemetery. From: Grant County News May, 1968