Helen Bernasek

Notes:

She was married to Leo RYCHECKY and later Telmar ROLFSTAD, both now deceased. Helen lives in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. (Milligan, 1988-2008, p. 112).

Obituary
Helen Rychecky Rolfstad

Helen Rychecky Rolfstad, 89, of Scottsbluff, died Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at Heritage Estates in Gering.

Her memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2011, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Ron Nuss-Warren officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Helen was born on a family farm near the Town of Ohiowa, Nebr. on Sunday, May 28, 1922, to Cyril M. and Helen V. Bernasek. Helen was the youngest of three daughters. She was baptized at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Milligan. When Helen was three years old the family moved to their farm on the Geneva route in Chelsea Township. Helen attended Chelsea School, district 32, through the eighth grade and attended Sunday school and church at the Chelsea United Bretheran Church.

Helen graduated from Geneva High School in 1939, and took Normal training to prepare her for a teaching career. In the fall of 1939 she began teaching in a rural school. After a few years she enrolled in Teachers College the University of Nebraska from which she received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She became a member of the Phi Lambda Theta, a teachers' honorary society.

When she was 17, Helen met her future husband, Leo Rychecky, at a dance she attended in Saline Center. They were married October 6, 1945, in Alliance, Nebr., where Helen was teaching in the Alliance Public Schools. They couple moved to Leo's home area of Wilber, Nebr., and it was here that a son Jack was born in 1949.

In 1951 the family moved to Scottsbluff where Leo continued his auctioneering and real estate business, and Helen went back to teaching. She found every day of her career was a joy. Her biography was printed in Who's Who in Education in the early 1990s.

After Leo's death, Helen moved around a bit and made contact with a former beau, Telmar Folfstad, she had met during World War II when he was stationed at the Alliance Air Base. After a separation of 50 years the couple married. They lived in Willston, N. Dak.

After Telmar's death, Helen decided to move back to Scottsbluff to be closer to family and friends. She rejoined the First Presbyterian Church of which she had been a member many years before. She was a member of the Woman's Circle, an Elder, a Deacon, A Sunday School teacher, and a church librarian.

During her life Helen traveled throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Africa. She was a fabulous baker and made the best Czech kolache this side of heaven.

Survivors are loving son, Jack Rychecky and his caring wife Ann of Littleton, Colo., grandchildren and their spouses, Jill (Wes) Schrader of Littleton, Colo., Thom (Natalie) Rychecky of Edmond, Okla., Helen (Whitney) Hite of Madison, Wisc., and LTJG Per Rychecky of Whidbey Island Navel Air Station, Wash., great granddaughter Lena Rose Rychecky of Edmond, step children, Tom (Dana) Rolfstad of Williston, N. Dak., Dorothy Rolfstad of Mandan, N. Dak., and John Rolfstad of Seattle, Wash; step grandchildren T.C. (Kelci) Rolfstad of Portland, Ore. and Anne Rolfstad of Mandan, N. Dak.; and her extended family and special cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Leo Rychecky (1988) and Telmar Rolfstad (1999); sisters and their spouses Elsie (Bill) Dungan and Lillian (Bill) Davis

Helen married Leo Rychecky on 6 Oct 1945 in Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska. Leo was born on 17 Jun 1918; died on 26 Jun 1988 in Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Helen married Telmar E. Rolfstad after 1988. Telmar was born on 13 Jun 1918; died on 2 Mar 1999 in Williams County, North Dakota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

CYRIL M BERNASEK 22 Feb 1890 08 Nov 1993 68361 (Geneva, Fillmore, NE) (none specified) 505-44-9176 Nebraska

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Nebraska, Fillmore County, Chelsea Twp
Enumerated 23 Jan 1920
SD 4 ED 23 Sheet 5B
103-103
Bernasek, Cyril M Hd M W 29 M Neb Bohemia/Bohemian Bohemia/Bohemian Farmer
Bernasek, Helen Wf F W 25 M Nebraska Bohemia/Bohemian Bohemia/Bohemian
Bernasek, Elsie Elizabeth Dtr F W 2 7/12 S Neb Neb Neb
Bernasek, Lillian A. Dtr F W 6/12 S Neb Neb Neb

Cyril married Helen Votipka on 23 Feb 1916 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Helen was born on 30 Jun 1894 in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 2 Oct 1953 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Their daughters were Elsie Dungan, Lillian Davis and Helen Ryschecky. (Milligan, p 200)

Notes:

Cyril was only ten years old when he came to America with his parents. He should have automatically become a citizen when his father was naturalized. Fearing he might be deported back to Bohemia at the outbreak of the First World War, he filed a declaration of intent to become a U.S. Citizen in Fillmore County on 24 July 1919. He was sworn in as a citizen on 4 October 1921, with Charles Smrha of Milligan and James Delaney of Exeter as witnesses. (Milligan, pp 199 - 200).

Cyril married Marie Andelova on 16 May 1889 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Marie (daughter of Vaclav Andel and Marie Ziskova) was born on 23 Aug 1869 in Hlinci, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 12 May 1922 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 14 May 1922 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She came to America on June 9, 1888, stopping first in Chicago. She was a well read woman, giving readings from Bohemian literature. (Milligan, p 199). She had a brother named Tom Andel, and several half siblings, John, Josefa, Jim and Frank Fujan and Mary Kaderabek. Her half-sister, Josefa, married her brother-in-law, Frank Bernasek. (Milligan, p 201). The name of her parents, as reported on her marriage license, were Jim Urbanek and Mary Zekes. Robert Nohavec instead shows them as Vaclav ANDEL and Marie ZISKOVA. The supplementary Milligan History book, 1988-2008, lists them as Vaclav Andel and Marie Ziska.

During World War I, ladies in the Milligan area knit warm clothing for the soldier boys through the Red Cross. Marie was a champion knitter. She received letters from soldiers stationed at Fort Omaha thanking her for the socks. They had found her name in the socks. (Milligan, p 200)

Marie took her life on May 12, 1922, at the age of 52 years. (Milligan, p 200)

Notes:

Married:
They were married at the Courthouse in Geneva by the county judge. Witnesses were J.L Honchin and J.J. Dempster. The Fillmore Weekly Chronicle newspaper described the couple as lavishly decorated with roses and pink ribbons, closely followed by an elderly pair. They made their home in Glengary and Chelsea Townships. (Milligan, pp 199 - 200)

Notes:

"Josef Bernasek was born in the village of Prodeslady, town of Kravovice, county of Plzen in Bohemia on June 20, 1831.

His death certificate lists his parents as Ondrej Bernasek and Katherine Vcela. He was married in Bohemia to Josefa Urbanek. He came to the Milligan area from Europe twice, his name being first recorded in a book of Homestead records at the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln as filing a claim to 80 acres in Section 10 of Glengary Township on October 17, 1870. John Bernasek cliamed 80 acres in the same quarter on the same day. Vaclav Bernasek, a son of John's, recived the patent on the farm Joseph Bernasek claimed. It is not definately known how John and Joseph were related. They could have been brothers. MILLIGAN NEBRASKA 1988-2008 indicates that the claim for 80 acres in section 10 used a 3 letter abbreviation for his first name, probably read as JOS. for Joseph, but may have actually been Jas. for James, with his given name actually being VACLAV. The patent on that land would later go to Vaclav Bernasek. (p. 113).

Josef and Josefa and their three children, Frank 16, Cyril 13 and Marie 10 came to the United States a second time on the Steamship "Zoffie," leaving Hamburg, Germany on March 20, 1879 and docking in the New York Port on Good Friday April 10, 1879. Daughters Emilye, Marie, Frantiska, Josefa and Kristina died of diptheria in Bohemia. This is possibly why Joseph did not prove the homestead. He may have received word from Bohemia of the illness of his daughters, and returned for sometime with his wife and children before returning to the United States. When the family returned, they migrated to the homestead of John Bernasek (assumed to be his brother by this compiler) where they lived until they were able to move to their farm. Joseph contracted 80 acres, the E 1/2 NE 1/4 of Section 21 in Glengary Township on July 1, 1879, with the Burlinton and Missouri River Railroad Company. He received the deed on October 3, 1889. The farm was given to his son, Frank, on July 11, 1895. It is still in the Bernasek family, owned by Ervin and Carol Bernasek. Joseph and oldest son Frank went to Geneva on July 3, 1879 to file their naturalization papers. Joseph was sworn in as a citizen on Mary 31, 1887.

Joseph contracted another 80 acres, the E 1/2 NE 1/4 of Section 17 in Glengary Township on October 24, 1879, with the Burlington and Missouri. This contract was made for 10 years at $5.50 an acre. Joseph received the deed on July 9, 1887 from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This farm was given to his son Cyril. (Milligan, p 202). He made a stipulation that Cyril must give his parents one-third of the crops raised and a comfortable room in the house. Cyril and his wife sold the farm to Frank Kassik on April 30, 1908 for $7,600. (Milligan, p 199)

Joseph met with a fatal accident on July 17, 1906, at age 75. He and his wife were riding in a buggy when the horses were frightened by a pile of manure at the stockyards on the south end of the city limits. Joseph was thrown from buggy, killed almost instantly. Josephine was also thrown, but escaped with a few bruises. The funeral was conducted from the Catholic Church. (Milligan, p 202).

[Note: Ken Chromy instead has his location of birth as Babina (Plasy), Bohemia.]

(Research):

Census Listings:

FamilySearch 1880 National Census

Census Place:Glengary, Fillmore, Nebraska
Source:FHL Film 1254748 National Archives Film T9-0748 Page 51 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Joseph BENNESEK Self M M W 52 BOHEMIA Occ:Farmer Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Josefine BENNESEK Wife F M W 51 BOHEMIA Occ:House Keepe rFa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Cirrall BENNESEK Son M S W 15 BOHEMIA Occ:At Schoo lFa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mary BENNESEK Dau F S W 12 BOHEMIA Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA

Josef married Josefa Urbankova. Josefa was born on 16 May 1831 in Bohy, Plzen-Sever, Plzensk? Kraj, Bohemia; died on 25 Apr 1914 in Atlanta Township, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried on 26 Apr 1914 in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

After her husband's death, Josephine made her home on the farm with a grandson, Cyril Bernasek. When she became ill, she went to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Vaclav Koca in Atlanta Township of Saline County. She died at the Koca home on April 25, 1914, at the age of 83. A "Card of Thanks" in the Milligan Times expresses the family's thanks to Charles Smrha for the impressive speech at the mourners home and cemetery, to Messrs. Frank Hrdy, Charles Smrha and Norbert Svatos for the beautiful song service, to Vaclav Koca for the religious ceremony, the undertakers Frank Rozanek and Joe Matejovsky for last service rendered, and to Mrs. Josephine Rohla for loving service in time of sickness and comfort in the final hours. (Milligan, p 202). Ken Chromy shows she was a daugheter of J. DUSKOVA and Mr. URBANEK, and that she was born in Bohy.

Vaclav married Marie Ziskova about 1868 in Bohemia. Marie was born about 1839 in Slatina, Kralovice, Bohemia; died before 1922 in Bohemia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]