Stephen Raymond Filipi peacefully passed at CHI St Alexius, Dickinson, on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, surrounded by family. Stephen’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, January 2, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Keith Streifel as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a Rosary & Vigil at 6 p.m. with Deacon Al Schwindt as presider. Visitation will continue on Friday one hour prior to the Mass at the church.
Stephen was born on October 22, 1925 to Frank and Mary (Tuhy) Filipi on the farm, located near Dickinson which he called home for the following 100 years of his life. Stephen was one of seven children, raised with a strong foundation of faith.
Stephen stirred up lots of shenanigans as a young boy on the farm, such as the time he threw a rock at a very devious rooster, managing to hit it just right, and then in a panic trying to revive it in a water trough. His father Frank also caught Stephen and his brothers smoking cigarettes in hiding. A favorite story for Stephen to tell was the moving of the farmhouse to its present day location, by use of logs and horses, to position it further from the highway. During the construction, Stephen, his parents, and his siblings lived in the granary until the home was ready. Stephen was educated at St. Pius Catholic School through his eighth grade, stopping in order to assist his father on the farm, as his brothers (Laudie and Ludwig) were away fighting in the war.
Stephen met Rose Jilek on June 11, 1945 while she was walking to a local dance, and he offered her a ride. The following year, Rose wrote an entry in her diary: “Steve and I were to a wedding dance at New England, it was Steve’s cousin Eleanor Dolechek. We had a lot of fun. I wrote Steve a letter and told him, ‘I would not go dancing with my brother Laudie and cousin Frank; without my honey. Darling I made up my mind, definitely I’ll never go dancing without you and nobody is going to change my mind either. Goodnight and sweet dreams sweetheart.’” Thus, the love between them flourished, even through Stephen’s fulfillment to his country by reason of the draft. He was assigned to Korea, but during his leave, eagerly married Rose on August 19, 1946. After the wedding, Stephen served an honorable 6 months before returning to Rose, continuing to farm the homestead. During this time, Stephen and Rose perfected their family by having 12 girls and 3 boys. The family continued to farm for many years, milking cows and selling dairy for profit. Stephen would often inform others that “we had 15 children.” Rose was quick to remind him that he couldn’t have any- SHE had 15 children.
Throughout all of Stephen’s life, the Catholic faith was the center of his and Rose’s family. They would all pray the rosary daily after supper. They attended daily mass at St. Pius Church in Schefield, and later, weekly adoration at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Stephen was forever a tinkerer at heart. He loved fixing and restoring anything he could grab hold of. Old toys, bikes, lawnmowers and even a horse-pulled buggy were included in his partiality of restoration. Stephen’s pride and joy was an early 1950s Ford 641 Workmaster tractor that he restored with the purpose of simply tootling around the farm. When finished with a repair, Stephen would always say “It’ll go now,” and it did. Along with tinkering Stephen was a great welder, and he passed this skill on to other family members who were eager to learn. The garage shop was filled with tools and parts that Stephen used for repair. While it was difficult for the average person to find what they were looking for, Stephen always knew where everything was.
When Stephen and Rose had “retired” from farming, they would spend their time visiting their children who lived away from home. Stephen and Rose would also meet good friends (Richard Sickler, Emil and Florence Wingenbach) after daily mass for coffee and breakfast. This was the preferred way to spend an exceptional morning. The two loved shopping at local rummage sales and second hand stores, finding “new” toys for the farmhouse and cookie jars for the kitchen.
Stephen created many lasting accomplishments on the farm. In his seventies, he constructed a storage building, made on a whim out of old lumber and scraps from the beloved “junk pile.” The building was used to store his John Deer Combine and various farm treasures. It is visible while driving by the farm on Highway 22. In his later years, he found joy in coin and Die-Cast car collecting. He loved to show his latest additions, but more often gave coins and cars to many of his grandchildren.
Stephen was a social butterfly; he loved having his family and friends around. Whether it was at the farmhouse or out for brunch, he enjoyed a good conversation and an even better cup of coffee. A favorite social past time at the farmhouse was many games of Pinochle, but towards the end of his life, he loved to play Seven Cards Hands Down. When his grandchildren would visit, he liked to say, “You’re happy when they come, and you’re happy when they go.” The most valued gatherings were those that commemorated the long marriage between him and Rose, as well as his many birthdays. Each year, children, grandchildren, cousins and friends would come over to the farm to celebrate.
In 2004, Rose would suffer a stroke, and Stephen cared for her lovingly for the next 3 years. Once Rose was moved to a nursing home, he would make daily visits. When Rose returned to live at the farmhouse again, both her and Stephen were cared for by their daughter Diane and eventually their oldest daughter Angie.
Throughout this time, Stephen still looked after the farm: feeding the chickens and picking the eggs, getting the mail, fixing the “pig waterer,” and tinkering around the farmhouse and the land. Stephen prayed a daily rosary with Mother Angelica on EWTN, as well as watching daily mass. He would often be found singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet while he exercised. Stephen was very involved with the local Real Presence Radio. The station would come to the farm to interview and record Stephen: asking his age, how many children he and Rose had, and their years married. Then they would play this clip on Real Presence Radio.
Stephen had many favorite treats he would indulge in, such as ice-cream bars, and more recently- Hershey’s Chocolate Drops. His grandchildren enjoyed snatching a few ice cream bars for themselves as well. Stephen was sure to have a little stash of snacks next to his recliner in the living room, reserved for listening to polkas or watching a movie.
Stephen was a dedicated member of St. Pius Verein, Knights of Columbus #6308, American Legion, and the North Dakota Farm Bureau. He was proud to lead the rosary at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Stephen received an honorary “Quilt of Valor” for his military service from the American Legion.
Stephen is survived by his remaining 12 children: Angie (Anton) Stockert, Diane Keck, Arnie (Theresa) Filipi, Peggy Jurgens, Carol Carter, (friend Roxy Alpert), Jane Nichols, MaryAnn (Dennis) Johnson, Theresa Jurgens, Audrey (Mike) Charchenko, Bernie (Shane) Spradley, Christina (Zane) Alexander, and Jacinta Skretteberg (Rick Rauser); daughter-in-law, Sue (Leonard) Pavlicek; sons-in-law, Ray Wood, Cary Jurgens, and Chad Skretteberg; sister, Margaret Eckert; and sister-in-law Leona Jilek. Stephen also has 56 grandchildren, 142 great-grandchildren, and 19 great-great-grandchildren, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Stephen was preceded in death by Rose, his wife of 75+ years, and three children: Darrell, Eugene and Judy Wood; his parents; brothers, Laudie (Aleen), Ludwig (Tillie), and August; sisters, Mildred (Charlie) Steffan, and Hattie Gerber; brother-in-law, John Eckert; five sons-in-law, Dan Pavlicek, Ken Jurgens, Elmer Brannam, Mark Nichols, and Dale Keck; two grandsons, Chris Carter, and Denver Kitzan; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends; parents-in-law, Steve and Anna (Kacalek) Jilek; four brothers-in-law, Laudie, George (Irene), Joe, and Steve (Laura); and six sisters-in-law, MaryAnn (Laudie) Chalupnik, Anna (Vince) Veverka, Emma (Clement) Meduna, Mildred (Mike) Burian, Georgianne (David) Karsky, Mae Krpoun, and infant Dorothy.
In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to St. Joseph’s Church for the Pine Room Suppers.
