Dorothy E. “Dottie” Zilkowski, 86, Dickinson, formerly of Belfield, died Friday, November 29, 2019 at Sanford Health, Bismarck. Dorothy’s Celebration of Life Service will be 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at Ladbury Funeral Service with Rev. James Hessler officiating. Inurnment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Dorothy E. “Dottie” Basaraba was born on May 15, 1933 to Peter G. Basaraba and Polly (Palaniuk) Basaraba, the youngest of eight children.
Dorothy attended Klym Elementary Farm Country School, grade school in Belfield and graduated from Belfield High School in 1952. In 1953-1954, she attended Parks Business College in Denver, Colo., and obtained Secretarial/Bookkeeping Degree. She was employed with Oilfield related Companies which involved traveling abroad and state side offices. In 1972, Dorothy returned to Belfield to care for her aging parents as well as was employed at Dickinson State College as Payroll Clerk and for Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. In 1974, Dorothy obtained her North Dakota Real Estate License, as Sales Associate with Everett Real Estate.
In 1977, Dorothy married Joseph Zilkowski and made their home in South Heart where she also was licensed by the State of North Dakota to provide Adult Foster Care for the Development Disabled Clients, for her Foster Daughters, Peggy J. Vammer and Renita E. Schmalz, for a period of 23 years. The Zilkowski’s moved to Dickinson in 2009 where she continued to provide Foster Care until 2012. Dorothy was also a licensed Respite Care Provider for the Elderly.
Dorothy is survived by her sister Ann Basaraba; foster child, Peggy Vammer; 26 nieces and nephew, numerous great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe on June 17, 2017; her parents; her brothers, George, John, Bill and Nick; and sisters, Mary Ewoniuk and Stella Kordonowy.
