Celaine
Votava, 88
Thief
River Falls - Celaine Votava, 88, died Monday,
February 5, 2001 at Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home
in Erskine.
Mass
of Christian burial was held 
at
2 p.m. on Friday, February 9, at St. Bernard's
Catholic Church in Thief River Falls with Father
Dennis Weiland officiating. Kristi LaSalle was the
organist, and Marie Nowacki was the cantor. Special
music was provided by Resurrection Choir.
Casketbearers were Anthony Kozojed, Paul Votava,
Darrel Peterson, Stan Dickman, Louis Schultz and
Herman Schultz. Interment was in St. Bernard's
Catholic Cemetery in Thief River Falls. Green
Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of
the arrangements.
Celaine
Prestegaard was born on August 21, 1912 in Erie in
Pennington county, the daughter of Severt and Ellen
(Sandeen) Prestegaard. She was baptized and
confirmed in the Lutheran faith and later converted
to Catholicism. Celaine graduated from Goodridge
High School in 1928. She then attended teachers
training at Bemidji State College and eventually
received a bachelors degree in education. Celaine
later attended school in Moorhead to attain a
degree in special education.
On
March 20, 1937, she was united in marriage to Ward
Votava at St. Bernard's Rectory. Celaine taught at
a country school for 10 years, at St. Bernard's
Catholic School for eight years and at Franklin
Middle School as a special education teacher for
eight years. After a 26-year teaching career, she
retired in 1977. Following their retirement,
Celaine and Ward enjoyed numerous trips and
wintered in Arizona for many years.
The
couple enjoyed "trailering" and the many friends
they were able to share activities with along the
way. Celaine also enjoyed sewing, quilting,
crocheting and most handiwork.
She
was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, a
social member of the Catholic Foresters and a
member of the Teacher's Retirement Association.
Many in the community were touched by her volunteer
activities and willingness to help
others.
Celaine
is survived by her husband, Ward of Thief River
Falls; three daughters, Celestine Naylor of Thief
River Falls, Josephine McAdam of Mesa, Ariz. and
Rosemary (Robert) Kline of Rochester; three sons,
Eugene (Carol) Votava of East Grand Forks, Ward
(Sharon) Votava Jr. of Thief River Falls, and
Timothy Votava of Grand Forks, N.D.; a son-in-law,
Larry Jorgenson of Warren; 13 grandchildren; 16
great-grandchildren; and several nieces and
nephews.
She
was preceded in death by a son, Vernon; a daughter,
Valda Jorgenson; her parents; a grandson, John
McAdam; a sister, Orissa Schultz; and a brother,
Eugene Prestegaard. A00003B2000FB14
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