Blanche Ziska

Blanche Ziska, 88, of O'Neill, died Monday, July 24, 2023 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill.

Visitation was held Friday, July 28, 2023 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Memorial funeral services were held Friday, July 28, 2023 at the mortuary in O'Neill. Rev. Paul Harder officiated.

A private family burial will be held at a later date in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Blanche was born to Joseph Bartos and Antonia Swoboda Bartos on Feb. 19, 1935, west of Verdigre. She joined three brothers. The family moved south of Emmet, where Blanche attended School District 152, known as the Stortz School about 10 miles south of Emmet. In 1945, the family moved to Atkinson. Blanche attended grade and high school in Atkinson, graduating from Atkinson High School in 1952. After graduation she moved to Valentine, working at the Cherry County Superintendent's office and later the Cherry County Clerk's office.

At a dance at the Crystal Ballroom in Atkinson, Blanche had caught the eye of a young man. He asked her to dance, and on June 27, 1953, she married her sweetheart Marvin Ziska at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in Atkinson. Marv and Blanche made their home in Valentine until 1958, when Marv took a job at the Wayne Herald newspaper in Wayne.

Marv and Blanche had three children Beverly Joyce, Doreen Marie and Daniel Joseph. The family moved to O'Neill in 1959, when Marv took a job at the newspaper. Blanche stayed at home, caring for their children. Later she joined Marv in working at The Frontier and Holt County Independent as a teletype setter. She retired in 1989.

In retirement Marv and Blanche provided litter control on two miles of U.S. Highway 20 west of O'Neill for 15 years. They also volunteered, boxing government food commodities for seniors for 15 years at CNCS. In December 2005, they began delivering prescription medications for O'Neill Family Pharmacy. For many years they provided transportation for individuals going to medical appointments. 

As a couple, they were almost always together. They enjoyed dancing, something she had enjoyed for a long time. She once won a dance contest. 

Blanche was active in St. Patrick's Altar Society, serving as chairman and co-chairman, and later joined the funeral committee, preparing food for funeral dinners. 

She enjoyed being outside, helping with lawn and garden care, fishing, family camping, cooking/baking, canning the produce from their garden and watching birds in their backyard. More recently, she enjoyed doing Word-Search puzzles.

Blanche is survived by two daughters Beverly McConnell of Atkinson and Doreen (John) Loeffelholz of Halbur, Iowa; one son Dan (Marge) Ziska of O'Neill; six grandchildren Marty (Dave) Lauridsen of Columbus, Rhonda (Nate) Christensen of Brandon, SD, Jeremy McConnell of Clearwater, Sarah (Jackson) Medina of O'Neill, Luke (Trista) Wallace of Lincoln and Katy (Brook) Rowan of O'Neill; 19 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Antonia Bartos; husband Marvin Ziska in 2021; one son-in-law Victor McConnell; one great-grandson Cameron McConnell; three brothers Joe (Beulah) Bartos Jr., George (Opal) Bartos and Raymond (Aletha) Bartos; her in-laws Charles and Elsie Ziska; and three nephews David Bartos, Keith Ziska and Gary Hazelhurst.