Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272107
Title: Eileen L. Leiss
Date: 2/5/1938-3/11/2026
Inscription/Marks: 2/5/1938
Summary: Eileen Leiss, 88, of Dickinson, ND, passed away March 11, 2026, at Edgewood Dominion, Bismarck, ND. Funeral Mass was celebrated March 19, 2026, at Queen of Peace Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Ryan Martire celebrating. Burial was at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Born on February 5, 1938, in Dickinson, Eileen Lillian Ficek was the second-born to Albert and Lillian (Urbanec) Ficek. She grew up on the family farm near New Hradec alongside her older sister, Betty, and later welcomed three younger siblings to the family, Donna, Delmar, and Nancy. Eileen attended school in New Hradec, graduating from the eighth grade in 1952 before continuing her education at Central High School in Dickinson, where she graduated in May of 1956. During those high school years, she stayed with her aunt in Dickinson during the week and returned home to the family farm on weekends. Her childhood was filled with fond memories and working on the farm. Eileen always had a lively imagination and a gift for storytelling that made even everyday farm chores an adventure. In 1957 at a dance, she met a handsome cowboy named Roger Leiss, who quickly became the love of her life. The couple married in June of 1959 in a celebration that lasted nearly the entire day, complete with a ceremony, reception, supper, and dance, along with a few cherished Czech traditions. Eileen was proud of her heritage and enjoyed the traditional treats like kolaches. Eileen and Roger began their life together on the Leiss family farm near Manning, ND, living near Roger's parents, Joe and Teresa "Granny Chick" Leiss. Eventually the couple moved to Dickinson, where they raised their family. Together they welcomed five boys, the light of Eileen's life: Tom, Scott, Bob (Teresa), Jerry (Beth), and Rick (Sarita). The boys certainly kept her on her toes and, as she liked to say, "gave her gray hair." Between their wild Leiss nature and mischievous adventures, there was rarely a dull moment in the household. Still, she loved every second of it and proudly shared stories about her boys with anyone willing to listen. Eileen happily welcomed her daughters-in-law into the family and was thrilled when the grandchildren began to arrive. She thrived in her role as a grandmother to Jessie (Jason), Matt (Jessica), Elizabeth, Christopher, Jacklyn (Greg), Megan, Katie, Brooke, and Marriel, and later delighted in her five great-grandchildren: Jenna, Jamisyn, Bennet, Avery, and Riley. Holidays were her specialty, and her sparkle especially lit up during family gatherings. The family often reminisces about her fun Christmas grab bag gifts, Easter egg hunts, lively board games, and big family meals. Eileen was a great cook, although she would humbly disagree and say she was only a "so-so cook." Her family enjoyed homemade favorites like noodle soup, pigs in the blanket, cheese buttons, banana cream pie, and her famous waffles. Eileen worked various secretarial jobs while raising her family. In 1968, she began working at the auditor's office at the Stark County Courthouse. Her career there spanned 32 years, the last 10 of which she proudly served as the Stark County Auditor. This was an elected position she earned the old-fashioned way, by going door-to-door, asking people to vote for her. Anyone who met Eileen quickly realized she was hard to say no to. She loved traveling and often took trips with friends from work and cherished a special trip with her sisters. She also enjoyed gardening, attending Catholic Mass, playing cards with her pinochle group, watching crime dramas, snacking on her favorite Poppables, and listening to "soft" country music. Eileen also treasured her nieces and nephews and had a way of making everyone feel welcome. In recent years she enjoyed the people and activities at Edgewood in Bismarck, where she made her home for over two years. Eileen was truly the heart of the Leiss family with her kind nature, generous spirit, caregiving ways, quick wit, and humorous stories. She will be deeply missed by many. Eileen is survived by her sons, Tom, Scott, Bob (Teresa), Jerry (Beth), and Rick (Sarita); grandchildren, Jessie (Jason), Matt (Jessica), Elizabeth, Christopher, Jacklyn (Greg), Megan, Katie, Brooke, and Marriel; great-grandchildren: Jenna, Jamisyn, Bennet, Avery, and Riley; and siblings, Donna (Tom) Binek, Delmar Ficek, and Nancy (Justin) Hoff. Eileen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Roger Leiss; her parents, Albert and Lillian Ficek; her in-laws, Joe and Teresa "Granny Chick" Leiss; her sister, Betty Pavlish; brother-in-law, Kenny Pavlish; infant nephew, Joseph; and her infant grandson, Chad Leiss.
Red ID: FND_I_79600 Image ID: 556847 Image Notes: FND001 272107

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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