East Helena Obituary: Isabelle E. “Issie” Pistelak
Author: Family of Isabelle E. “Issie” Pistelak
Isabelle E. “Issie” Pistelak, age 90, of East Helena
Family of Isabelle E. “Issie” Pistelak
August 28, 1934 – June 28, 2025
Isabelle Ellen (Rogan) Pistelak passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, June 28th, 2025, with her family at her side.
Issie was born in Helena, MT on August 28, 1934, to John and Emma Rogan. She grew up on their family farm in the Helena Valley with her parents and five siblings.
She graduated from Cathedral High in 1952. Issie continued her education at the Helena Business College and, being an avid adventurer, moved to San Francisco, CA, where she graduated from the San Francisco Dental Technician College in 1953. Upon her return to Helena, she worked with Dr. John Madsen, DDS, for many years.
Being no stranger to hard work and true determination, she could accomplish anything she set her mind to.
Issie served as church secretary with SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church Parish Council in East Helena and was also their Parish representative on the Tri-Parish board. She taught religious studies in the CCD Program, also.
Being well accomplished during her years, she was named “Who’s Who in the West” and “Who’s Who in America”, a charter member of the East Helena Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and was the first female to serve on the East Helena City Council Board and held her position for eight years. While on the council, she coordinated the East Helena Senior Citizens Program and the Daily Dinner Club for four years.
She started working for the state of Montana and through hard work and determination, she reached the level of Administrator of the State Department of Commerce until her retirement in 1985. Her position had oversight of the Montana State Milk Board, Department of Business and Regulations, the Montana Nurses Association, and the Professional Licensing Division.
On November 7, 1953, she married Joseph Pistelak of East Helena. They built a home together in East Helena. With Issie acting as the general contractor, she would run the backhoe and assist in any way she could to finish their residence quickly. Later, she designed her awesome kitchen addition that made their home complete.
Throughout their marriage, they enjoyed traveling and camping with friends and family and enjoyed their cabin in Lincoln, MT. They each loved gardening and would share their abundance from their labors. They also raised their two sons, John and Tony, in East Helena.
Issie was known as “The Hostess with the Mostest” and would greet everyone with a smile that could light up a room. She would host family, friends, co-workers, state Legislators, and even the Governor of Montana enjoyed her hospitality over the years.
She would host large parties, celebrations, and dinners, all while making it seem effortless. Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were filled with family, food, and fellowship for many, many years. Her large dining room and kitchen tables were overflowing with people. At one point, she actually had shifts at the tables to accommodate those she invited or had just stopped by to say hello.
Issie would begin making and baking her delicious Almond Roca, povitica (potica), zucchini and banana bread, and her special fruit cake loaves and would gift them for Christmas presents. Requests for her famous Almond Roca, povitica, and three packs of bread began to come in from all over the country. She finally began taking orders and would start her baking after Thanksgiving dinner. Eventually, she was not able to accommodate so many orders and transitioned into just making a few of each to have on hand and share with those who came by for a visit and coffee.
She learned to can vegetables and fruits. You could find her jar room bursting with favorites like her yummy chow-chow, zucchini relish, pickles, green beans, beets, peaches, pears, cherries, and so many more staple goods.
Issie always loved and enjoyed her flower beds, plants, and garden. Each year she would plant pink and white petunias bordering the front yard and in her raised flower beds. She was featured in the Helena IR front page in color with her beautiful petunias.
She eventually scaled back on such a busy schedule, as it was time for her to truly retire. She enjoyed embroidering and finished many sets of tea towels she shared with others.
Issie’s sense of humor throughout her life, her experience, and her true grit always made everything better. She and Joe were married for 68 years until his passing in 2022, when she made the decision to relocate to the Beehive Active Retirement Home on her own. She enjoyed the family home atmosphere, her own room, three square meals a day, Bingo, crafts, and the care she received, just to mention a few, throughout her time there.
Isabelle is preceded in death by her parents John and Emma Rogan, her husband Joe Pistelak, brothers Bill (Nell) Rogan and Jack (Lois) Rogan, sisters Marie (Rogan) Hicks and Patricia (Rogan) Wold.
She is survived by her two sons John Pistelak of Lincoln, MT and Tony (Robin) Pistelak of Santee, CA, sister Helen (Rogan) Richards of Austin, TX, four Grandsons: Mike, Jeff, and Chris Pistelak of Great Falls, MT and Nick (Sarah) Ewing–Pistelak of Campo, CA, and three Great-Grandchildren: Great-Grandson Jimmy Pistelak and Great-Granddaughters Katelynn and Juliette Ewing-Pistelak.
We would like to share our sincere thank you to the staff of Beehive Homes during her time she was there, making her feel at home. Our sincere thanks to Mom’s entire hospital care team for their understanding, compassion, and exceptional care given to both Mom and her family during her brief stay.
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