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Otto Leistiko, son of Jan Fryderk and Luiza Leistikow, was born November 24, 1883 in Konin, West Prussia, Poland. He immigrated in 1892 and changed his last name to Leistiko at that time.
Otto first married Marie Leistiko. Marie was Otto's 1st cousin, daughter of Otto's uncle August Leistikow. Marie was born in October, 1882, and immigrated in 1896. They were married September 21, 1898, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and were listed in the 1900 census in Great Falls, along with Otto's brother Fred and wife Augusta, his brother Albert and wife Elizabeth, his sister Mathilda and husband John Henschel, and his brother John August Leistiko and his wife Tina. In the census, Otto was listed as a carpenter. Otto received his citizenship in Great Falls on October 23, 1900. His witness was John Henshel. He renounced his allegiance to the Czar of Russia as he took his oath to become an American citizen.
Marie died of tuberculosis at the age of 22 and was buried July 5, 1903, in Highland Cemetary in Great Falls.
Otto and Marie had 2 children:
| Paul Leistiko | Born June 30, 1899, in Montana. When Marie died, Paul went to live with his grandparents, Jan and Luiza Leistikow. He lived with them until age 19, then moved to Portland, Oregon. Paul never married. |
| Elsie Isabella Leistiko | Born October 15, 1902. Only 1 1/2 years old when her mother died, Elsie was sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle Albert and Elizabeth Leistiko on their farm. Eventually she married Harold Roe, her Aunt Elizabeth's brother, and they had one child, Wendell, who died as an infant. Later in life, Elsie remarried twice, to John Leverich and Rick Kammerer. |
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After the death of Marie, Otto remarried to Augustina Ann Ruzek on July 22, 1905, in Livingston, Montana. Augustina was born August 28, 1884, in Panzberg, Germany. Otto and Augustina had nine children:
| John Amel Leistiko | Born in 1906. John first married Lillian Gertrude Johnson, who died in 1936. John the remarried to Vurnice Adams in 1937 and they had four children. | |
| Mary Leistiko | Born in 1908. Mary married first married Harry Collet in 1924 and they had 3 children. Mary and Harry divorced, and she remarried to Virgil Paiste. | |
| Krist Frank Leistiko | Born September 27, 1910. | |
| Otto Leistiko, Jr. | Born in 1911 | |
| William Walter Leistiko | Born 1914 | |
| Herman Robert Leistiko | Born 1916 | |
| Elizabeth "Betty" Leistiko | Born 1919 | |
| Helen Leistiko | Born 1923 | |
| Anna Rose Leistiko | Born 1925. Anna married Merle Adams in Livingston, Park County, MT October 31, 1942. He was born January 20, 1921, in Livingston, Park County, MT. |
Otto worked many years on the railroad in Livingston. He spoke seven languages, which he learned when working in several foreign countries. When he refused to cross the picket line when the railroad emplyees went on strike in Livingston, he was fired. He then went to Yellowstone Park, where he helped build Old Faithful Lodge.
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Otto died in Livingston on November 4, 1934. Augustina died October 20, 1962. Both are buried in Livingston.
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