Funeral Services for Eileen will be on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Bowman.  Fr. Paul Eberle will celebrate the Mass with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery.  Visitation for Eileen will be on Monday, November 23, 2020 from 12-9 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.

Our most beloved EILEEN E. (VATNE) KALINA, 90, of Bowman, ND, passed away on November 19 ^th , 2020 in Bowman at Sunrise Village. The funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 24th, 2020 at 2.00 PM at the St. Charles Catholic Church, with Father Paul Eberle officiating and burial to follow in Bowman Cemetery. Visitation for Eileen will be on Monday, November 23, 2020 from 12pm-9 pm at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the non-profit volunteer group, 'Oreo Animal Rescue' in Dickinson, ND.

Eileen Vatne was born May 4th, 1930 in Bowman North Dakota, the daughter of Rudy and Ruth Vatne. As eldest daughter, Eileen was at the helm of four other brothers and sisters – Dorothy, Doris, Betty and Marlin Vatne, and grew up on a farm south of Rhame, near Mud Buttes. Working alongside her siblings to help their parents, she learned firsthand what hard-earned freedom and struggles farm life offered. In her early life, she attended many different grade schools, from Nebo Township School, a now very rare "One Room Country School" where kids gathered, enjoying views over the prairies to excitedly learn, than off to join the 'big schools' at Golden Valley and Sunset Valley.  She graduated from Bowman High School in 1948, just after WWII and with hopes for America's brighter future.

On September 24 ^th , 1952, she married her high school sweetheart Tommy Kalina at the St Charles Catholic Church.  Two children were born to this union, Connie Jean Kalina and Jason Thomas Kalina.

As a young couple, they chose to take over his father, Joe Kalina's farm, where they had many wonderful years, and many difficult ones as well.  Farming gives early morning sunrises, days full of intense activity and unexpected challenges.  Together on the farm they worked as a team, raising their black angus cattle, and working the land.  Eileen labored alongside her husband every day, a strong and committed companion and good farmer in her own right.  No matter what the weather conditions were, they were out in the fields together, working the ranch, enjoying meaningful success and experiencing their fruits of labor with deep pride.

Alongside farming, Eileen worked many other jobs, from waiting tables in Watford City with her sister Dorothy, as well as Bowman's Flagstone Terrace. For 2 years, she ran the Trail Motel and enjoyed meeting all the interesting people who came through town.  Eileen also worked for years as a Salesclerk at the Bowman 'Coast to Coast' Hardware Store and had many wonderful memories of her colleagues who became long-time friends. In 1970, much to her delight, she drove the school bus for five years.  She loved those kids on that bus, and generously offered her kindness and thoughtful care for them.

Eileen also loved animals and felt kinship with the cats that chose the Kalina farm as a home. She was always finding homes for those that couldn't stay, and friends joked with her, calling her a devoted Cat Lady. She would always laugh at that.

In truth, Eileen was above all else a woman that naturally carried a lightness of being, a feeling of joy and a childlike laughter that gave testimony of her appreciation for the simple things that mattered.  She genuinely liked people and she made others feel good about themselves. Eileen brought out jokes, smiles and a feeling of true community. For those that knew her, also know what a privilege it was to befriend her.  The Kalina Farm was full of friends and family; she loved to entertain, and her home was a respite from harder times to enjoy a moment of laughter.

Eileen Kalina will be missed beyond what words could possibly express.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, Rudy and Ruth Vatne, her daughter Connie Jean Kalina, her husband Tommy Kalina, her sisters Dorothy (Rob Holm), Doris Domagala, Betty Schleve, brother in law Ronald Sarsland, and nephews Wayne Holm.

She is survived by her son Jason Kalina and dear friend Deb Guidinger of Bowman, granddaughter Sonia (Benoit) Fleck and Jonathon (Saori) Fleck, and great grandchildren Eli and Emma Fleck, brother Marlin (Shannon) Vatne of Rame, brother in laws Lawrence Domagala and Dick Schleve of Dickinson and many nieces, nephews and friends.