Fred and Irene Leistiko
Fred August Leistiko, son of Fred and Augusta Leistiko was born in 1902 in Glasgow, Montana. In 1924 he began his telephone career, and was transfered to Glasgow in 1927 as a "combination man". He served in various capacities in Culbertson, Malta, Wolf Point, and Cutbank. He was appointed manager at Cutbank in 1954.
Fred was a member of the Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, and was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He also served as treasurer and council of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Cut Bank.
Irene Rose Wagner, daughter of Henry and Rosa Wagner, was born in Philadelphia in 1909, a year after her parents arrived at Ellis Island from Romania. Her father was a butcher by trade, and soon found a job. By 1912, Irene was joined by her sister Helen and her brother Harry. Her dad followed his brother out west, and settled in Great Falls, Montana. When he had saved enough money, he sent for his wife, sister, and children.
Irene grew up in Conrad and Great Falls. She began attending Great Falls Commercial College before her father was killed in a work-related accident. Then she went to work for Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, helping her family financially.
Sadly, her brother Harry was killed in the Philippines during World Was II. She was very close to him and missed him always.
It was at the telephone company that she met Fred Leistiko. Fred and Irene married in 1938 and remained married until Fred's death in 1976.
Several years later, Irene remarried to Lyle Reichman. However, Lyle died only one year later, in 1989.
Irene enjoyed her retirement years. They were spent gardening, traveling, quilting at the Senior Center, and crocheting, an art she learned from her mother. She also took pleasure in being with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Irene lived in her own home and managed her own affairs until January, 1998, when her health began to fail. She then moved in with her daughter Carol in Lake Stevens, Washington, who cared for her until her death later that year at age 89.
Late in life, Irene documented her recollections of her family history, and events in her early life.
Fred and Irene had two children:
| Janet Leistiko | Born in 1942 |
| Elaine Carol Leistiko | Born in 1945 in Cutbank, Montana. |
