Catherine "Katie" Dolechek

Catherine "Katie" Dolechek obituary, Dickinson, ND

Catherine "Katie" Dolechek

Upcoming Events

Oct

22

Rosary

6:00 p.m.

Stevenson Funeral Home

2067 1st. St. W, Dickinson, ND 58601

Send Flowers

Oct

23

Service

9:00 a.m.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church

310 2nd Street West, dickinson, ND 58601

Send Flowers

Only 2 days left for delivery to next service.

Catherine "Katie" Dolechek Obituary

Visit the Stevenson Funeral Home, Inc. & Crematory - Dickinson website to view the full obituary.

Funeral mass for Catherine "Katie" Dolechek, 87, of Dickinson, will be 9 am MT Thursday, October 23, 2025 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery in Mandan at 2 pm CT.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2025 with a Rosary and Vigil service taking place at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson.

Catherine passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at Country House.

Catherine Marie (Urlacher) Dolechek, 87, Dickinson, passed away at Country House Residence surrounded by family on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Catherine "Katie" was born October 23, 1937, on the family farm of her parents, John & Mary (Messer) Urlacher, near Reeder, ND. Katie was the second daughter of seven girls to John & Mary. She grew up on the family farm and attended Ott Country school in Hettinger County, ND through 8th grade. Katie and her sisters worked very hard on the farm growing up as they had no brothers to help their father with chores.

On May 28, 1957, she married Ralph Dolechek at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New England, ND. To this union nine children were born: Kathleen, Dale, Daniel, Mary Kay, Carol, Alvin, David, Renee and Patrick. Ralph and Katie farmed and ranched with her parents near Reeder, ND from 1957 to 1963 when they moved to Dickinson, ND.

Katie was busy as a homemaker raising seven children. She loved to cook, bake, sew and do embroidery projects. Ralph and Katie raised a large fruit and vegetable garden and planted many flowers every year. Katie canned and preserved many of those items and her pickle recipe and canned beets were a family favorite.

Katie loved to bake from scratch, her specialty was her homemade bread along with her caramel rolls. She baked and decorated her own cakes for Ralph and all the kids' birthdays. Katie loved the Christmas holiday and baked numerous Christmas cookies and treats every year. She loved to prepare and cook the large holiday meals for her family and guests.

Raising seven children was challenging at times, especially with four boys, but her home was always clean and spotless, and she always kept herself busy. One word everyone used to describe Katie was "sweet". She had such a mild, polite, and caring demeaner. Her personality shined with a big smile for all, even up to the time of her passing. Ralph, her children and grandchildren were truly blessed having such an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother. After her children finished high school Katie went to work at Dickinson State University in Selke Hall. She retired in 2000 after 20 years of dedicated service.

Katie was a lifelong member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Her faith was very important to her. Her strength and patience came from God and the Blessed Virgin Mary whom she adored. Katie was a dedicated prayer warrior at the Eucharistic Adoration every Monday afternoon for many years at St. Patrick's. Katie rarely missed Sunday mass and if she did, she would tune into a mass on cable tv. At home Katie would read from her bible and numerous prayer books daily along with praying a rosary before bedtime.

As her children married and moved out of state, Ralph and Katie enjoyed vacationing and traveling to visit them and the grandkids. Her favorite pastime was watching and listening to polka and waltz music. Her favorite shows were the Big Joe Polka show and the Mollie B Polka Party.

Katie's husband Ralph passed away in 2017, and she continued to live on her own. Her health began to fail in 2024, and she moved into the Country House Residence in February 2025 where she resided until she passed. She will be greatly missed. Katie's family expresses thanks to Country House Residence and their staff for the compassionate care their mother received while living there.

Katie is survived by her sons, Dale of Dickinson, Daniel of Killdeer, Alvin from Wasilla, Alaska, and David of Dickinson; daughters, Mary Kay (Kevin) Hondl of Dickinson, Carol (Alan) Klatt of Dickinson, and Renee (Kelly Olheiser) of Dickinson; Her sisters, Sr. Hildegarde Urlacher of Bismarck, Margaret Miller of Mandan, Celestine Praus of Dickinson, Frances (Ernie) Praus of South Heart, Clementine (Bernard) Steffan of Bismarck; 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Katie was preceded in death by her parents John and Mary Urlacher, husband Ralph, infant children Kathleen and Patrick, her sister Maria Weinberger and daughter-in-law Jody Dolechek.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Make a Donation
in Catherine "Katie" Dolechek's name

How to support Catherine "Katie"'s loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief

Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
Ways to honor Catherine "Katie" Dolechek's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Upcoming Events

Oct

22

Rosary

6:00 p.m.

Stevenson Funeral Home

2067 1st. St. W, Dickinson, ND 58601

Send Flowers

Oct

23

Service

9:00 a.m.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church

310 2nd Street West, dickinson, ND 58601

Send Flowers

Only 2 days left for delivery to next service.