Veronica Richards

A funeral service for Veronica Richards, 86, of Belle Fourche, SD, will be 11:00 a. m. , Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka, MT, with Pastor Andy Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in Beaver Lodge Cemetery. Family receiving Friends will be 4:00 p. m. to 6:00 p. m. on Friday, January 24th at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 9:00 a. m. until service time. Veronica passed away Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD. Veronica was born October 22, 1927 in Stayton, OR, the daughter of George and Gladys (Pestka) Kreitel. The family grew up in the Chalk Buttes where they went to country school, later moving to Ekalaka. Veronica graduated from Carter County High School as valedictorian in 1946. She continued her education at Montana State University, now known as University of Montana, where she received her teaching degree. Veronica’s first teaching jobs were at Absarokee and Belfry Montana. Veronica married Edward R. Sikorski. The couple was blessed with two children, Peter and Cynthia. The family made their home in Rapid City for a short time before moving to the Kreitel Ranch and later making Alzada their home. Ed passed away in 1969 during the move to Ekalaka where Veronica served as the Superintendent of Schools for a year and then went back to teaching Math at Carter County High School. Veronica married Roy D. Richards in July of 1976 and they moved to his ranch south of Ekalaka. She became the first Home-Ec teacher in the fall of 1980, at the new Carter County High School. After her teaching years, she moved with Roy in the early 80's to Spearfish where she owned and operated an Assisted Living Center, caring for her mother, brother, as well as others. In the late 80’s she retired and made her home in the Northern Hills. Veronica enjoyed gardening, planting trees (mainly fruit trees), Bible study, and reading. Veronica was member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Belle Fourche, SD and she was a member of the Alpha-Chi-Omega Sorority. Veronica is survived by her son, Peter Sikorski of Belle Fourche, SD; a daughter, Cynthia Sikorski of Livingston, MT; step-sons, Jerry (Kathy) Sikorski of Ekalaka, MT, Jack Sikorski of Dickinson, ND, Tim (Penny) Sikorski of Flower Mound, TX, Mike (Barbara) Sikorski of Brookfield Center, CT, Duane (Melinda) Richards of Hammond, MT; step-daughters, Lucky (Paul) Teigen-Grummons of Newcastle, WY, Colleen (Bruce) Brunner of Newell, SD, and Charita (Kevin) Brunner of Edgemont, SD; sisters, Margaret (Jim Barnes) Sherman of Miles City, MT, Rosemarie Miller of Pierre, SD, Mary (Tom) McCamish of Ekalaka, MT; sisters-in-law, Janice Kreitel, Ekalaka, MT and Verna (Don Somerville) Kreitel, Bismarck, ND; numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and special friend Harold 'Buck' Gaustad. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Edward Sikorski & Roy Richards; infant sister, Evelyn Kreitel; step-son, Eddie Sikorski; step-daughter, Linda Richards; brothers, Glenden and his wife, Lucille, George Jr. ‘Buds’, Earl, Edward and his wife, Nora, and Gilbert Kreitel; brothers-in-law, John Sherman and Gene Miller.


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Burial Date: January 25, 2014
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT
Church Stevenson Funeral Home

Funeral Service: Saturday: Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT