Lily J. Maliske, 89, of Bowman, ND, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026 in Rapid City, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial for Lily will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 10:00 am at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Bowman. Fr. Ben Franchuk will celebrate the Mass with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery. There will be Rosary and Vigil Service on Friday, May 8, 2026 at the St. Charles Catholic Church beginning at 7:00 pm. Visitation for Lily will be on Friday, May 8, 2026 from 12-5 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel and from 6-9 at the St. Charles Catholic Church.

SERVICES For Lily will be livestream here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/18nw9pNcaC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

LILY JOLENE MALISKE, 89, of Bowman, North Dakota, passed peacefully on April 27, 2026.

Lily was born September 24, 1936 in Bowman, North Dakota to Oakley Wilhelm and Elizabeth (Bessie) Mrnak Erickson. Siblings included Henry (Boots) Erickson, Roderick (Rod) Erickson, Kent (Joe) Erickson, Iris Erickson Engesser, Donna Erickson, and Marylea Erickson Alexander. One sister, Patricia Erickson, died in childhood.

Lily’s early education occurred in Bowman County culminating with graduation from Bowman High School in 1954. She attended Black Hills Teacher College in Spearfish, South Dakota for a year and worked for First National Bank for two years prior to meeting and marrying Herman Sebastian Maliske of Ludlow, South Dakota.

Life on the farm was not always easy but she persevered. Her greatest accomplishment she would tell you was raising three and a half dozen children: Zoe (68), Zack (67), Mike (65), Zeta (64), Zane (63), Zarrin (deceased), Mark (56), Zelina (55), and Mitch (53).

20 grandchildren call her ‘Grandma’ as well as 15 great grandchildren (soon to be 16).

Lily was so very proud of her kids. She surrounded herself with her family whenever possible. Family was the center of her world and the source of her greatest joy. She was the epitome of unconditional love and unwavering support for us. She was the matriarchal glue that held the family together and the hub for all family news. She loved to travel with us, be with us, gather us all together. She would not be left behind and was quite frustrated when health challenges and limitations eventually slowed her down and kept her from the life she once loved so much.

Anybody who knew Lily, understood her voracious appetite for card games, dice, or dominoes. Her competitive spirit, long memory, and good luck were legendary. She was sharp with a take-no-prisoners attitude and until the very end, enjoyed her weekly cards or bingo games with local residents which had become the substance of her resident life.

Sewing, knitting, and crocheting were also life-long loves of Lily. Who in the family doesn’t wrap themselves up in a warm Lily-made-with-love quilt or fuzzy blanket? Or hang some kind of handmade ornaments on their Christmas tree?

For a large family (and maybe for some peace and quiet) gardening was a necessity but she developed a love for growing flowers in her later years. She was like a kid in a candy store at Mother’s Day when someone would treat her to bedding flowers or build her planters, work her yard, or fuss with her plants.

Lily was also a collector of some pretty silly things. In addition to the traditional items, angels, travel memorabilia, dishes, mugs, etc. who can unsee that rooster collection? Or the dancing nuns? Or the beer steins?

Lily was a Christian woman who we trust went to meet her Lord and Savior as well as Zarrin, her family and her friends who got there before her. She is probably already playing pinochle or dancing a lively polka!

We will forever be grateful that our mom died peacefully in her sleep on a family weekend while relatively healthy and pain-free surrounded by her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She will be greatly missed. We love you, Mom!

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and son Zarrin Maliske.

Lily is survived by

Zoe (Krystal, Dillon, and Brittney) and Tracy Copenhaver;

Zachary Maliske and Jodi Roberts;

Michael and Lori Maliske (Amy, Seth, Josh, and Ben);

Zeta and Curt Drolc (Logan and Erika);

Zane and Joni Maliske (Kristen, Jake, and Tara);

Staci Maliske (Michael and Michaela);

Mark Maliske (Alli);

Zelina and Kyle Johnson (Davis, Brooks, and Nyssa);

Mitch and Naomi Maliske (Isabella and Sophia);

And her treasured friend, Lenore Burke.