Catherine "Katie" R. (Skalicky) Pesek

Catherine “Katie” Rosalie Pesek, age 93, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Valley Senior Living on Columbia in Grand Forks ND.

Catherine Rose Skalicky was born on August 31, 1931, in Michigan, ND to Alfred and Catherine (Bina) Skalicky.  She attended Brocket Public School and later went to Mayville College to get her teaching certificate.  On June 3, 1952 she married Joseph C. Pesek and moved to his family farm to operate the farm and raise their four children.  Katie worked hard on the farm milking cows and doing chores while Joseph played with his family band every weekend.  Katie found her passion for cooking and baking through the various jobs she held throughout her life.  It all started in the local bar and grill “Louells” in Lawton and then on to help cook in the café in the Lawton Farmers Union.  She later worked at Millers Shopping Center on the Prairie until it closed.  Katie made her way to Lankin to run the Silver Dollar Cafe for a few years.   She and Joey retired from farming in 1993 and moved to Edmore in 1995, where they opened the Main Street Café and ran it until 2011.  Katie put down her apron and retired at the age of 80.  Katie was especially known for her baked goods like Rolukis and Kolaches which were loved by so many in the area.  Katie showed her love for people by the wonderful food she cooked and baked over the years.  One of her favorite things to do was cook for her family.  She will be fondly remembered for her sense of humor and quick wit which always came out in her visits.

Katie will be deeply missed by her 4 children, Michael (Cindy) Pesek of Grand Forks, Marsha (Steve) Monroe of Grand Forks, Sally (Tony) Leddige of Grand Forks and Joe (Lisa) Pesek of Edmore; 5 grandchildren, Sacha (Josh) Farley, Crystal Johnson, Britney Pesek, Brady (Andrea) Pesek and Parker Monroe; 2 step-grandchildren, Bethany (Joe) Benjamin and Adam (Michelle) Lunde; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Sister Elizabeth Skalicky of Leavenworth, KS and JoAnne Connelly of Renton, WA.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Joseph; her parents; 4 sisters, Loretta Lala, Dorothy Pesek, Genevieve Wolf and Minnie Pecka; and one brother, Ed Skalicky.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lakota, ND, with visitation from 9:30-10:30 am.

Burial will be at St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery, Lomice, rural Lawton.