Elizabeth "Bette" Ziska

Elizabeth “Bette” Louise Ziska was born June 2, 1926 to Lloyd and Phoebe (Hill) Peterson in Stillwater, Minnesota. She graduated from Monroe High School in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1944. On November 16, 1946, Bette was united in marriage to William Ziska at St. Stanislaus Church in St. Paul. Bill and Bette would live in West and South St. Paul until 1979. During this time, Bette worked in the credit department at Field Schlick, a women’s clothing store, which she did until 1963. She retired from her secretarial position with the Minnesota Highway Credit Union in 1979. From 1979 to 1986, they lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Omaha, Nebraska for Bill’s employment. They retired to Green Valley, Arizona in 1986. In 2011 they returned to Minnesota, living in Inver Grove Heights, and finally Woodbury, Minnesota until her death.

Bette was an avid golfer, belonging to several golf clubs (Southview Country Club in West St. Paul, MN, and Canoa, Quail Creek, and Desert Hills Country Clubs in Green Valley, AZ). She loved to travel – Hawaii, Alaska, Caribbean Islands, Panama, New England, Norway, England, Holland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bette loved her family. It was always a joy for her to attend family gatherings and watch her great-grandchildren’s events. Bette was a loving caregiver as Bill’s health declined. He preceded her in death in 2020. In her free time, Bette found pleasure in doing crossword puzzles, word searches, and reading. It was important to her to stay in touch with family and friends, which she did through her iPad.

Bette is lovingly remembered by her children, Cathy (David) Steel of Pinehurst, North Carolina, and Barb (Gary) Golla of Luverne, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Andrew Golla, Nathan (Molly) Golla, Jen (Mike) Zasada, Brian (Stacey) Steel, and Megan Steel; and nine great-grandchildren, Sydney Steel, Haley Steel, Anna Steel, Adam Steel, Jackson Golla, Josephine Golla, Caden Zasada, Shea Zasada, and Max Zasada. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Ziska; parents, Lloyd and Phoebe Peterson; brother, Don Peterson; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Brad (Lillian) Genereaux, Bob (Dorothy) Jenkins, and Bob (Jackie) Schmitz.

A family graveside committal service will be held at a later date at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Memorials are preferred to: St. Therese of Woodbury, 7555 Bailey Road, Woodbury, MN 55129