Bernadette Kostelecky Obituary (1951 - 2021)

Bernadette Kostelecky, 70, Bismarck, passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at a local Care Center. There will be no visitation or services as cremation has taken place. Bernadette was born June 15, 1951, at Dickinson, ND, to John and Tillie (Feininger) Kostelecky. Born with severe birth defects she suffered congenital heart disease and lung disease and in 1959 underwent open heart surgery in Rochester, MN. She was raised and educated in the Bismarck, attending Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Grade School and St. Mary's Central High School before graduating from Custer County High School in Miles City, MT. She worked for Miles City Cable TV before working as a seamstress for Cingrys Cleaners (Big Sky Cleaners) in Miles City. Later she worked for Perfection Cleaners in Bismarck as a seamstress and worked for Elan Vital making specialty dolls. With her move to Bismarck, she attended Bismarck State College where she completed a two-year clerical program and began working for Job Service North Dakota and then working for the ND Human Services at the state capital building in Bismarck. She continued to have medical issues with a deteriorating spine condition which caused her to go on disability. Over the years she had many hobbies which included swimming, roller skating, baseball, jump roping and seeing movies. She enjoyed many crafts, oil painting, sewing dolls and toys, needlepoint, embroidery, and cross stitching to name a few. She also enjoyed photography, writing poetry and writing her autobiography entitled "Sojourner". She received many poetry awards in the 1980's and was listed in Who's Who in American Poetry. Her poetry is contained in a series of volumes entitled, "Dancing Words". Bernadette was preceded in death by her parents.