Christine Cecilia Ficek, age 99, died August 2 at the Martin Luther Manor in Bloomington, MN. Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 6, 12-1pm at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Valley City. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1pm with Monsignor Dennis Skonseng as the celebrant. Lunch will be served directly after the service with internment following at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Valley City .

Christine Cecilia Ficek was born May 31, 1917 in Stark County, near Dickinson, the daughter of Josephine (Zastoupil) and John Privratsky. She grew up, attended school and worked near Dickinson. On May 22, 1946 she was united in marriage to Vitres (Vic) Ficek, formerly of Dunn Co. (near Dickinson) who was honorably discharged from WWII military service in 1945.

The couple moved to Ypsilanti, where they farmed for 6 years and then moved near LaMoure where they farmed for another 12 years. Upon retiring from farming they moved to Valley City where Christine was employed at the Sheyenne Care Center for many years. Her husband, Vitres died in 2009 and Christine moved to Apple Valley, MN to be closer to her family.

Christine volunteered extensively in church activities, including the Nearly Nu. She was an avid maker of crafts and home goods receiving countless ribbons at the Valley City Winter Show. The homes of her children and grandchildren are filled with her quilts, crocheted tablecloths and doilies. She loved flowers, was a terrific gardener, enhancing each yard where they lived. At 70 years old Christine and Vitres purchased their first motorcycle, enjoying local we­­­ekend rides. Most would say she had an adventuresome attitude toward life.

Survivors include her children, a son Lawrence (Linda) Ficek, Center Point, IA; 2 daughters, Bernice Ficek-Swenson (Jon Swenson), Golden Valley, MN; and Judy Ficek (Sue Davis), Minneapolis, MN; five grandchildren: Lawrence Ficek, Jr., Lori Langan, Lona Smart, Ian Swenson and Joshua Swenson; and six great-grandchildren.   Her husband and all of her siblings preceded her in death.