|
|
|
Albert Leistikow, son of Jan Fryderk and Luiza Leistikow, was born February 3, 1868 in Konin, West Prussia, Poland. He spent 5 years in the Russian Army before immigrating to the United States, where he changed his last name to Leistiko.
Elizabeth Roe was born in Hardanger, Norway on June 6, 1868. Albert and Elizabeth were married in Grand Forks, North Dakota, around 1893, and moved to Montana in 1899. They were listed in the 1900 census in Great Falls, along with Albert's brother Fred and wife Augusta, his brother Otto and wife Mary, his sister Mathilda and husband John Henschel, and his brother John August Leistiko and his wife Tina.
The family next moved to Livingston, Montana, and finally homesteaded near Nashua, Montana.
Albert and Elizabeth had no children, but raised Elsie Leistiko, daughter of Albert's brother Otto, after Otto's first wife Marie died of tuberculosis. Later, they also assumed responsibiliy for raising Krist, one of Otto's sons with his second wife Augustina. Elsie eventually married Elizabeth's brother Harold Roe, and they farmed in Ronan, Montana. After Albert's death in 1928, Krist stayed on the farm to help Elizabeth. He later inherited the farm and raised his family there.
Elizabeth remained on the farm until 1946. Krist's daughter Lori remembers her as a very loving, caring, and kind person. She raised chickens and turkeys, and Lori enjoyed watching them hatch in the incubator. There were three houses on the place. One Krist had turned into a shop. Elizabeth lived in the bigger house, and Krist and his family lived in a smaller, white house. Lori remembers spending a lot of time at Elizabeth's house, and falling asleep in her hutch (which Lori later inherited).
When Elizabeth's health began to fail, she went to live with Harold and Elsie on their farm in Ronan. Elizabeth died in April 1948.
|
|