Click Here to view the Rosary & Mass for Vi

Vi Kostelecky, age 86 of Lemmon, passed away on May 3, 2023 at home in Bismarck.

Visitation for Vi will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.

The Rosary for Vi will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. all on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon, SD.  Fr. Adam Hofer will officiate with burial to follow in the Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.

ESTHER VIOLET "VI" KOSTELECKY was born on October 14, 1936 in The Dalles, Oregon to Vernon and Esther Flora (Braught) Evans. The family moved to Lemmon in 1945 and lived with Vernon's mother, Harriet Dale (Abby) Evans, for a short time until the family purchased property north of Gilstrap. Vi attended grade school at Gilstrap School until the 7 ^th grade when she attended Paranto School and then went to high school in Hettinger for one year. The remainder of her high school years were attended at Haynes High School. During those years she lived with Hazen and Delores Evans during the week.

After high school, Vi worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone as a "hello girl" (operator). On January 18, 1954, Vi married George Kostelecky in Lemmon. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Hettinger, ND where George worked as a driver for Pepsi Cola. In 1955 George and Vi moved to the Joe German farm southwest of Lemmon. They rented this land until 1960 when they purchased the farm. Over the years they slowly acquired more acreage for the farming and ranching operation. They lived there until 2003 when they moved to their new home south of Lemmon.

During the years at the farm, they were blessed (??) with six children. Along with taking care of the kids, gardening, canning, and raising chickens, she sewed the family clothing and took in projects for several individuals. She was quite the seamstress. In 1977 after the children had left or were in school, Vi started her new career doing accounting for Northern Contract Service, NW Area Schools, Evanson-Jensen Furniture, and eventually Kohlman, Bierschbach & Anderson. She retired in 2003 and went back to the love of her life "BOWLING". Vi served many years as League Secretary/Treasurer on various bowling leagues.

Vi left us on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 while in her home. She is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law, Pam Bloedel, Salome, AZ, Vicky (Dave) Sonn, Lemmon, SD, Angie (Steve) Foster-Hintz, Casa Grande, AZ, Gina (John) Kostelecky-Shankle, Kernersville, NC, and Missy (David) Eich, Sioux Falls, SD; 13 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Geraldine Evans and Edith Brodie.

Vi was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, George, her son, Rick, her brother, Clifford Evans, two sons-in-law, Vernon Foster and Dick Bloedel, and grandson Aaron Bloedel. A memorial has been established.