Kathryn Jilek

Funeral Mass for Kathryn Jilek, 92, of Dickinson will be 12:00 pm, Saturday, November 1, 2025 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Robert Shea celebrating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation for Kathryn will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home with a rosary and vigil service being held at 6:00 pm.

Kathryn passed away on her birthday, Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at St. Luke's Home, Dickinson.

Kathryn Rose was born in Dunn County on October 29, 1933, the daughter of Carl and Margaret (Boespflug) Roshau. She grew up on the family farm north of New Hradec. She attended country school and helped out on the farm for a number of years. It was during this time that she met Ray Jilek. Kathryn and Ray were married November 5, 1952 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Dickinson. Their marriage was blessed with five children: Wanda, Randy, Raymond, Joyce and Ryan. Together they raised their family east of Dickinson, developing their farm, ranch and feedlot for over 43 years. In 1995, they moved into Dickinson. Kathryn never spent a minute on a computer so to document her family's life and important events, she started a daily diary in the early 1960's, and it became her personal search engine. As Kathryn's children grew older, she began sharing her time in volunteer work at church with St. Ann's Altar Society and as Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of Farmers Union, Homemakers Club and neighborhood craft clubs. She found great pleasure in sewing, baking, crocheting and was always tending to a beautiful flower and vegetable garden. Kathryn had a compassionate heart for animals and adopted and raised many small farm animals. She could always find a way to turn out a meal for visitors no matter how short a notice she received. Kathryn greatly impacted the lives of her family and extended family. She left a lasting impression on those who met her, and if she met you, she never forgot you. Family and Faith were the pillars of her life, and she lived by them devoutly. Her faith will be remembered as blessed encouragement for her family to live by.

Kathryn is survived by her sons, Randy (Elaine), Raymond (Laura), Ryan (Kelley); daughters, Wanda Ford, Joyce (Rick Donaldson); 21 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; brothers, Charles (Jeannie) Roshau, Robert (Sharon) Roshau, Joseph (Mary) Roshau, sisters, Frances Bullinger, Delores Franchuk and Margaret (Bob) Clark.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Margaret Roshau; husband of 67 years, Deacon Ray Jilek (2020); son-in-law, Michael Ford; brothers, Harry, Ralph and Richard; infant brothers Leo and Larry; sisters, Anne Bullinger Helfrich, Pauline Sadowsky, Florence Haag and Irene Franchuk.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Deacon Ray and Kathryn Jilek Cemetery Endowment Fund at the Catholic Foundation, PO Box 1175, Bismarck,