Arlene M. Pishtek

Arlene Pishtek, 96, longtime resident of rural Brocket, died January 6, 2020 in a Minot nursing facility.

Arlene Marie Bosh was born December 17, 1923 on the family farm near Brocket, the second child of Joseph and Mary (Kratochvil) Bosh. She attended Sauter school before withdrawing to help with the family farmwork and the care of her siblings in the years following her mother's death in 1934. 

She married Clement Martin Pishtek on November 13, 1941 in Vesleyville, ND. Clem and Arlene lived briefly in Chicago, where she worked on the assembly line at the Ohmite manufacturing facility. They moved back to North Dakota and bought a farmstead east of Brocket where they worked, played, and raised their family. Arlene worked side by side with Clem milking cows and driving the combine each harvest. Clem and Arlene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1991; Clem passed away in 1996. 

Arlene loved her life on the farm and embraced it as long as she could, tending to her garden, doing chores, and riding her lawn mower for long hours well into her eighties. Living in a close-knit rural area, she was able and eager to share her love for God, country, animals, the outdoors, and hard work with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed playing cards and BINGO, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, needlework (her afghan blankets were the stuff of legends), traveling, and reading--often late into the night. She loved to cook and bake for her family, and mealtimes were always fervently anticipated by those lucky enough to partake. In addition to her home life, she was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brocket, was active with the St. Joseph's Altar Society, and also served on the St. Joseph's Cemetery board as secretary for more than thirty years.

More than anything, Arlene loved spending time with those she loved: her husband, her children, Ronald and Linda, and her adoring grandchildren. She was a small woman with a large heart, wonderful sense of humor, a faithful and kind character, and a well-stocked kitchen. 

Following a fall resulting in a broken leg in 2016, Arlene left the farm and moved to Trinity Nursing Home in Minot, where her lively spirit and dry humor continued to make her many friends. With each year, she brought more and more blessings and joy to her family. 

She is survived by her son, Ron (Barb) Pishtek, Brocket; daughter, Linda (David) Aleshire, Minot; three grandchildren, Matthew Aleshire (fiancee Jessica Gipson), Minot; Sarah (Jason Brown) Aleshire, Minot, and Rachael Pishtek, Fargo; two great-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Marshal Aleshire, Minot; step-great-grandson, Benjamin Brown; sister, Mary (Juel) Oen, Maple Valley, WA; sister-in-law, Germaine Bosh, Lakota; many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces; and her gardening buddy, Maggie.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; stepmother Mary (Hulka) Bosh; brothers Leonard Bosh and Joseph Bosh; sister-in-law, Violet Bosh; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service and recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church of Lakota on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with fellowship to follow.  Burial will take place in the spring.  Memorials are preferred to St. Joseph’s Everlasting Cemetery, P.O. Box 184, Brocket, ND 58321 or to the donor’s choice.  Děkuji

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