Lena (Steckler) Dressler, 93, formerly of Richardton, died Thursday, November 10, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Lena’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, November 15, 2011, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Richardton, with Fr. Boniface Muggli, OSB as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., Deacon Jerry Volk presiding. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Tuesday.
Lena Siller was born October 15, 1918 on the family farm near Mott, the daughter of Peter and Katherine (Rech) Siller. She was raised and educated through he 8th grade in a country school near St. Stephen’s Catholic Church. She then stayed at home to help manage the farm following the death of her father.
Lena married Leo Steckler in April 1941 and together they had three children. Leo died in September 1961. She worked at a local Richardton restaurant following his death. Lena was united in marriage to Nick Dressler in June 1965. She moved to the Dressler Ranch north of Richardton, where they raised their children. Nick died in October 1992.
Following the death of Nick, she moved into Richardton, and then in 1996 became a resident of Dickinson. While in Dickinson, she kept busy working at Sax Motors, Villard Terrace, and volunteering at many organizations. She loved baking caramel rolls, apple pies and playing cards with family and friends. Lena enjoyed being a caregiver to many through the years. She had belonged to the Christian Mothers, American Legion Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters, Senior Volunteer Program, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Dickinson.
Lena is survived by three children, Ken (Sheila) Steckler, Dickinson, Pat (Leon Schiltz) Cascaes, Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Peggy (Bud) Etzold, Jamestown; four step-children, Linda (Don) Staudinger, Dickinson, Kent (Mona) Dressler, Richardton, Russ (Deb) Dressler, Richardton, and Kelly (Kim) Dressler, Richardton; 19 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Leo and Nick; six brothers, Charlie, Carl, Pete, Kasper, Nick and Tony; two sisters, Mary Senn and Clara Siller; and one grandchild, Kelsey Dressler. “God bless Lena’s loving and giving heart”.
