Lauretta Bartole

Lauretta Kastelyns Mihulka Bartole, 87, passed away Oct. 1, 2017, at St. Gabriel's Community in Bismarck. Lauretta, the daughter of Vivian Bartel Kastelyns and Frank Kastelyns, was born June 22, 1930, in Bowman, ND. She grew up in Bowman and South St. Paul, MN, graduating from Bowman High School in 1948. She married Peter Mihulka on Sept. 1, 1948. They made their home in Bowman and raised 7 children. In addition to caring for her family, she did daycare along with cleaning and ironing for others to help make ends meet. She later worked at St. Luke’s Hospital as a receptionist and then as a dental receptionist for Drs. Stewart and Folske. As many others of her generation, she had a great talent of "stretching the dollar" to take care of our family. She raised poultry and canned a variety of foods from our massive gardens to feed us well thru the year. She was a wonderful cook and baker.   The smell of fresh baked bread and cookies would always greet us as we walked in the door. Mom was a very talented seamstress, sewing all of our school clothes and Barbie doll clothes; also doing alterations for others. She passed on her knowledge and love of sewing to her daughters. She spent many evenings crocheting and knitting gloves, scarves, caps and afghans; keeping us warm thru the winter. In later years, she enjoyed embroidery and learned oil painting and hardanger. The family moved to MN in 1976 to try farming and eventually moved to Glendive, MT. Times were tough and the death of the youngest son, Phillip, took its toll and the marriage ended. Lauretta enrolled in Dawson Community College and in 1982, at the age of 52, graduated with an Associate of Arts degree and an AAS Degree in Business Management. She worked at the Glendive Hospital in the business office until rheumatoid arthritis forced her to retire. She then lived with Euene and Brenda Olheiser in Glendive; and their children got to enjoy having a much loved grandmother to care for them. In 1993, the Olheisers moved to Billings and Lauretta moved to Bismarck and took her mother along with her. The two traveled extensively together, including Hawaii and bus trips throughout the US. Lauretta met George Bartole and they married Oct. 4, 1994 and over the next 10 years, they spent many happy hours fishing, playing cards, especially "31" and traveling. After George passed away Dec. 19, 2004, she found support and friendship with her friends in the Red Hat Society at Crescent West. To this day, her favorite color is purple.   She was one of the first residents of the new Edgewood Vista and throughly enjoyed her time there. As her health failed, she moved to St. Gabriel’s Community, where she had lived for the past five years. Lauretta is survived by six children, Brenda (Eugene) Olheiser, Billings, MT; Vince ( Donna) Mihulka,Richfield Springs, NY ; Roland ( Dianna) Mihulka, Bismarck, ND; Joyce ( Barry) Ness, Bismarck, ND; Ruth (Kevin) Rickbeil, Rice, MN; Leland Mihulka, Mountain, ND, and her brothers Harvey Christian, Mandan, ND and Milan (Paula) Olsen, Covington, LA, and first husband, Peter Mihulka , Billings, MT ,along with 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Bartole; son, Phillip Mihulka; and brother, George Kastelyns. The family would like to thank St. Gabriel's Community and CHI St. Alexius Hospice for their excellent care of our dear mother.