Martha Kostelecky, 94, Dickinson, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021 with family at her side at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Due to restrictions at the care center her family was not able to be with her very much, but were able to at the end. Martha’s Private Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 21, 2021 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. William Ruelle as celebrant. Entombment will follow at the Dickinson Mausoleum. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson.
Martha was born June 2, 1926 on the family farm in Dunn County, north of Dickinson, to Joseph and Anna (Faiman) Jablonsky. She grew up on the family farm where she attended country school. The family then moved to New Hradec in 1931 where her father built the Jablonsky Saloon “Joe’s Bar”. There she met the love of her life Charles L. Kostelecky and they were married at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, New Hradec on October 27, 1943. They lived with Charlie’s parents for three years. Their son Gary was born in 1945 and they moved to their own farm in 1946 with Dale being born in 1947. After a tornado demolished their farm in 1952, they moved to Dickinson, then Gillette, Wyo. in 1953 where Charlie worked for Young Exploration. The family returned to New Hradec in 1954 when Denise was born.
Martha worked at Joe’s Bar, cooked at Schnell’s Livestock Yard and spent many years in her love of her life “Martha’s Kitchen” with a kettle of her famous chicken noodle soup cooking on the stove. When anyone stopped by the smell of soup, chocolate chip cookies were always there and with a twinkle in her eye she would hand you a cup of coffee and bring out the cards. Cooking, baking and playing cards were her joys in life for her family and friends. She welcomed family and friends to her kitchen at anytime. The last few years, she lost her vision in her left eye and her hearing deteriorated to her dismay. She and her sisters Josie and Georgia were a formidable trio! Her daughter Denise cared for her in-home for over five years. She always has some fresh kolaches, rohliky, donuts, caramel rolls ready for whomever stopped by. She enjoyed traveling and vacationing and was always ready to go. She fell at home in 1994, broke her shoulder, but still managed to go on a family fishing trip to Alaska the following week. Martha was a member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association and the Knights of Columbus.
Martha’s family includes: son, Gary (Phyllis Kadrmas) Kostelecky, their children, Michelle (Mitch) Elton and her sons, Kevin, Steven, and Jon Shaw; Tina Gustafson and her children, Justin Palme, Miranda (Kale) Rorvik, and Cory Gustafson; and Jason (Jessica Castro Diaz) Kostelecky and their daughter, Jasmine; son, Dale Kostelecky (deceased 2014), his children, Scott (Sandy Dietz) Kostelecky, their daughters, Satasha and Sienna; Tonee (fiancé Anthony McFarlane) Vandervliet, and her daughter, Sydnee; and daughter, Denise (Terry) Wattie and their daughter, Tera (Jeremy) Smith, and their sons, Elijah and Isaiah. She is also survived by her sister, Josephine Kralicek; in-laws, Martha Kuylen, Jim Splichal, Raymond Kadrmas, and Betty Spaulding; and many nieces and nephews.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in March 1999; son, Dale; her parents; brothers, Laudie (Josie) Jablonsky and Robert (Margaret) Jablonsky; sister, Georgia (Wilfred) Kovash; in-laws, Joe Kralicek, Edith (Robert) Kadrmas, Mildred (Laudie) Ficek, Elsie (Marvin) Dagner, William (Norma) Kostelecky, Richard Spaulding, Andy Kuylen, Laudie “Jim” Kostelecky, Mary Splichal, and Georgia Kadrmas.
