Deanna Jean Spletstoser, 83

Deanna Jean Spletstoser, 83, was born on Nov. 28, 1937, in Great Falls, and passed away Dec. 25, 2020. Deanna was the first of eight children born to Gene and Margaret Leistiko, then of Power, Montana. They lived in a small cabin on the John and Hedwig Leistiko ranch near Power. Six of the eight children were born on that property.

Being the oldest child in the family, Deanna was often considered the “Boss” when the folks were gone to town or on an overnight trip to a square dance festival. Deanna was always the “Big Sister” the other siblings took seriously. She was the substitute parent they could always turn to.

Deanna attended Simms High School in Simms, Montana, where she was on the honor roll for three years, prom queen in 1955, and received the Heisey Foundation Award upon graduation in May of 1955. Her career goal was to become a certified public accountant, a career she followed for more than 40 years.

Deanna graduated from Kinman Business University in Spokane in July of 1956 with a Master of Accounts certification.

She married Jerome Spletstoser in her hometown Parish in Fort Shaw, Montana, on Oct. 11, 1956. The couple lived in Spokane where their two children, Victor and Tracy, were born. Tracy was born in 1958 and Victor was born in 1962.

Deanna and Jerry moved back to Montana and lived in Kalispell where Tracy and Victor attended high school. In September of 1975, their son Victor died tragically in a trailer house fire.

Deanna worked for Pack & Company and Semitool from 1975 to 1986.

In 1986, Deanna and her husband moved to Camarillo, California, where Deanna worked as an accountant for Structural Concepts for five years while attending Ventura College to earn two more associate degrees in accounting and science, graduating in 1989. In 1991 Deanna earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of La Verne and went on to work as an accountant for Stoneware Unlimited in Oxnard, California.

After the death of her father, Gene Leistiko, in August of 1990, Deanna finally decided to return to Montana to help care for her mother who lived alone on the family ranch in Condon. A few years later her mother’s health required the care of a nursing home, and she was moved to Hamilton for her care. Deanna cared for her mother while she was in the nursing home in Hamilton until her mother passed away in 2000.

Deanna and Jerry moved back and forth between Arizona and Montana for the next few years until Deanna decided she wanted to stay in Montana. Deanna and her husband lived together and apart for the next two years and eventually were divorced in August 2000. Deanna and Jerry maintained a close relationship until his death in October 2019. Deanna took Jerry’s death pretty hard. The loss of her only life partner was traumatic for Deanna and the onset of dementia began to surface. Her oldest living brother Fred was appointed by the court to be her guardian as her health declined. When it became apparent to her doctors that Deanna could not be left to care for herself, Fred moved her to an assisted living facility in Kalispell near him so he could watch over her. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic it became impossible to make routine visits to the assisted living home for friends and family. Fred made sure he was able to at least talk with his sister on a weekly basis. Deanna passed away on Christmas Day, 2020.

Deanna was preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Margaret Leistiko, of Condon; her oldest brother, John Bruce Leistiko; twin siblings, Patricia Ann (Leistiko} Anderson and William Paul Leistiko; and her youngest sibling, Margaret Rose (Leistiko} Clark; son Victor and husband Jerry; and nephew, Jeff Anderson.

Deanna is survived by her three brothers, Fred Allen Leistiko (Connie} of Kalispell, Steven Gene Leistiko (Melneeta) of Helmville, and Eugene Francis Leistiko (Evelyn} of Lyons, Colorado; daughter, Tracy Miller and granddaughter Charlene Miller of California; nieces, Shannon, Sheryl, Sue, Gena, Coco, Shanna, Kay Lynn, Vicky, Shelley and Michelle; nephews, Troy, Eric, Jason, Wally, Pat, David and Steve; and many grandnieces and -nephews.

Deanna and Fred were charged with fulfilling their parents’ last request to make sure the Catholic Church had the land necessary to build a new church in the Swan Valley. The land beneath Our Lady of the Swan Catholic Church was a part of the Leistiko Ranch that was donated to the Helena Diocese to build that church.

Deanna was very supportive of the De La Salle Blackfeet School at 104 First St. NW, Browning, Montana 59417. Gifts may be given to the school in her name. The school is a Catholic school associated with the University of Notre Dame and the Diocese of Helena.

Deanna will be buried next to her parents at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell.