Lucas A. "Luke" Steckler

Lucas "Luke" A. Steckler, 86, 109 4th Avenue N.E., Mandan, died Sept. 25, 1999, in a Mandan care center. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, with the Rev. Robert Feeney officiating. Burial will be in Mandan Union Cemetery.

Visitation begins at 1 p.m. today at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, where a Knights of Columbus Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. tonight, a Catholic Daughters Rosary will be said at 4 p.m. today and a parish vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight, all at the funeral home.

Lucas "Luke" A. Steckler was born on Oct. 27, 1912 in Richardton, the son of Peter and Philomena (Heil) Steckler. He was raised and educated in Richardton. Luke attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Ill. On July 14, 1936, he married Betty Brown in Richardton. He worked for the Mandan Creamery (Cloverdale Foods) for 20 years until he started Steckler's Refrigeration Sales and Service, where he worked until his retirement.

Luke was a member of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society, the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator and honorary member of the 4th Degree; a past member of the Mandan Elks; past president of the Mandan Kiwanis; a member of the Eagles Club; and an active member on a bowling league, and he loved playing cards and reading.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; one son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Helen Steckler, Mandan; and one daughter, Del Steckler, residing in Minneapolis; and three grandchildren, Todd, Scott and Kelly; one sister-in-law, Lena Dressler, Dickinson; and many nieces and nephews.

Luke was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Philomena; five brothers, Julius, John, Pius, Joe and Leo; and four sisters, Katie, Rose, Pauline and Anna; and his infant son, Vernon Luke.

Memorials are preferred to Mandan Public Library or St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mandan. (Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan)