Eileen Leiss

Funeral Mass for Eileen Leiss, 88, of Dickinson will be 10:00 am, Thursday, March 19, 2026 at Queen of Peace Church with Fr. Ryan Martire celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.Visitation for Eileen will be 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home with rosary and vigil at 6:00 pm.Eileen passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Edgewood Dominion, Bismarck, ND.Born on February 5, 1938, in Dickinson, North Dakota, Eileen Lillian Ficek was the second-born to Albert and Lillian (Urbanec) Ficek. She grew up on the family farm near New Hradec alongside her older sister, Betty, and later welcomed three younger siblings to the family: Donna, Delmar, and Nancy.

Eileen attended school in New Hradec, graduating from the eighth grade in 1952 before continuing her education at Central High School in Dickinson, where she graduated in May of 1956. During those high school years, she stayed with her aunt in Dickinson during the week and returned home to the family farm on weekends. Her childhood was filled with fond memories and working on the farm. Eileen always had a lively imagination and a gift for storytelling that made even everyday farm chores an adventure.

In 1957, at a dance, she met a handsome cowboy named Roger Leiss, who quickly became the love of her life. The couple married in June of 1959 in a celebration that lasted nearly the entire day-complete with a ceremony, reception, supper, and dance, along with a few cherished Czech traditions. Eileen was proud of her heritage and enjoyed the traditional treats like kolaches.

Eileen and Roger began their life together on the Leiss family farm near Manning, North Dakota, living near Roger's parents, Joe and Teresa "Granny Chick" Leiss. Eventually the couple moved to Dickinson, where they raised their family. Together they welcomed five boys, the light of Eileen's life: Tom, Scott, Bob (Teresa), Jerry (Beth), and Rick (Sarita). The boys certainly kept her on her toes and, as she liked to say, "gave her gray hair." Between their wild Leiss nature and mischievous adventures, there was rarely a dull moment in the household. Still, she loved every second of it and proudly shared stories about her boys with anyone willing to listen.

Eileen happily welcomed her daughters-in-law into the family and was thrilled when the grandchildren began to arrive. She thrived in her role as a grandmother to Jessie (Jason), Matt (Jessica), Elizabeth, Christopher, Jacklyn (Greg), Megan, Katie, Brooke, and Marriel, and later delighted in her five great-grandchildren: Jenna, Jamisyn, Bennet, Avery, and Riley.

Holidays were her specialty, and her sparkle especially lit up during family gatherings. The family often reminisces about her fun Christmas grab bag gifts, Easter egg hunts, lively board games, and big family meals. Eileen was a great cook, although she would humbly disagree and say she was only a "so-so cook." Her family enjoyed homemade favorites like noodle soup, pigs in the blanket, cheese buttons, banana cream pie, and her famous waffles.

Eileen worked various secretarial jobs while raising her family. In 1968, she began working at the Auditor's Office at the Stark County Courthouse. Her career there spanned 32 years, the last 10 of which she proudly served as the Stark County Auditor. This was an elected position she earned the old-fashioned way, by going door-to-door, asking people to vote for her. Anyone who met Eileen quickly realized she was hard to say no to.

She loved traveling and often took trips with friends from work and cherished a special trip with her sisters. She also enjoyed gardening, attending Catholic Mass, playing cards with her pinochle group, watching crime dramas, snacking on her favorite Poppables, and listening to "soft" country music. Eileen also treasured her nieces and nephews and had a way of making everyone feel welcome. In recent years she enjoyed the people and activities at Edgewood in Bismarck, where she made her home for over two years.

Eileen was truly the heart of the Leiss family with her kind nature, generous spirit, caregiving ways, quick wit, and humorous stories. She will be deeply missed by many.

Eileen is survived by her sons, Tom, Scott, Bob (Teresa), Jerry (Beth), and Rick (Sarita); grandchildren, Jessie (Jason), Matt (Jessica), Elizabeth, Christopher, Jacklyn (Greg), Megan, Katie, Brooke, and Marriel; great-grandchildren: Jenna, Jamisyn, Bennet, Avery, and Riley; and siblings, Donna (Tom) Binek, Delmar Ficek, and Nancy (Justin) Hoff.

Eileen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Roger Leiss; her parents, Albert and Lillian Ficek; her in-laws, Joe and Teresa "Granny Chick" Leiss; her sister, Betty Pavlish, brother in-law, Kenny Pavlish, infant nephew, Joseph; and her infant grandson, Chad Leiss.

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