Elinor R. Ficek, 98, Dickinson died Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at the Richardton Memorial Health Center, Richardton. Elinor’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, November 28, 2008 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Todd Kreitinger as the celebrant and assisted by Deacon Russ Kovash. Interment will take place at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, November 27, 2008 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m.
Elinor R. Barta was born September 14, 1910 on the family farm in Dunn County of North Dakota, the daughter of Alex and Rose (Kubik) Barta. She was raised and educated in Dunn County having attended the Wild Rose School #2.
Elinor worked for several area families prior to her marriage. She married Clement L. Ficek on October 9, 1933 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson. They moved to Stark County and farmed for three years prior to moving to Adrian, Mich. Where they both worked in a factory for 18 months. The Ficek’s returned to Stark County and farmed for the next 25 years. Their son David L. was born June 30, 1940. The family moved into Dickinson in 1958 and continued to farm.
Elinor was a member of the Catholic Daughters, the RSVP, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church since 1958 and prior to that at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, New Hradec. She enjoyed gardening, especially growing strawberries and flowers. The raising of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, and milking cows were an important part of her life. Elinor enjoyed working with the sewing machine, making her own clothes and also making silk flowers.
Elinor is survived by her sister, Rose Fick, Michigan; her brother-in-law, George Keller, Dickinson; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clement on February 26, 1995; her son David on September 18, 2002; her parents; six sisters, Mildred Fisher, Beatrice Pavlicek, Hattie Svihl, Lillian Beattie, Martha Parker and Dorothy Keller; and three brothers, Otto, George and John Barta.
