Eileen Helen Wenzek

Eileen Helen Wenzek died of natural causes on the evening of May 15 at Rosetta Assisted Living in Helena, Montana.

Eileen was born in Great Falls to Mary and Matt Kralich on March 10, 1930. She resided in Black Eagle and was the oldest sister to Rose, John, James and Robert. Eileen graduated from Great Falls High School with the class of 1948. She worked at the Anaconda Company in Black Eagle until her marriage to Art Wenzek on June 17, 1950. They were married 57 years until his passing in 2007.

Eileen worked in Great Falls for General Motors Parts, Montana Hardware, First National Bank, Super Save, Meadow Gold Dairy and the Cascade County Assessor and Treasurer’s Office. She took great care that the work she did was accurate and people were treated fairly.

Two children were born to Eileen and Art. Randy was the first born and came out of the gate burning rubber. He progressed from go carts to Stock Cars and from bicycles to Harley Davidsons. Hence, most of Eileen’s gray hair which she so beautifully covered. Her daughter, Kathy, was born two years later. Eileen made sure her children had the opportunity to participate in sports, music, dance and ice skating. Eileen sewed beautiful costumes for Kathy’s dance recitals.

Today her children are fine young adults at 60 and 58 years of age. Randy lives in Great Falls with his wife, Janice. They have an adult son, Chad, who lives and works in Great Falls at National Electronics Warranty. Kathy is married and lives in Helena with her husband, Culver Varnado. Their son, Eric, works out of Missoula for Montana Rail Link.

After Art and Eileen sold their automobile dealership in Great Falls, they moved to Helena. Eileen worked part time in the Lewis & Clark County Assessor’s Office. She also volunteered at St. Peter’s Hospital and later at the VA Hospital at Fort Harrison.

Eileen loved to talk, keep detailed records, sew and spend time at their lake home. Her greatest pride was her family who she so unselfishly put before herself. One of her greatest thrills was meeting President John F. Kennedy.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Art, and a brother, Jim Kralich. In addition to her children and grandsons, Eileen is survived by her sister, Rose Dorman of Black Eagle, a brother, John (Shirley) Kralich of Big Sandy, and youngest brother, Bob (Signe) of College Station, Texas.

After months of intense care, the family will celebrate Eileen’s life at a later date. Eileen’s cremated remains will be placed along with Art’s in the Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum in Great Falls.

The family thanks Hospice of St. Peter’s, as well as the staff and residents at Rosetta Assisted Living, who so compassionately held our hands and our hearts as Mom sailed to calmer waters. Memorials are suggested in Eileen’s name to Farm in The Dell, 3240 York Road, Helena, MT 59602 or to Hospice of St. Peter’s, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. To offer a condolence or share a memory of Eileen, please visit: www.retzfuneralhome.com.

“Life is a journey
of sweetness and sorrow,
Of yesterday’s memories
and hopes for tomorrow,
Of pathways we choose
and detours we face
With patience and humor,
courage and grace,
Of joys that we’ve shared
and of people we’ve met
Who have touched us in ways
we will never forget.”

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