Rachel Pittsley
Rachel E. Pittsley was born Edna Rachel Faulkner at home in rural Arnegard, N.D., on Aug. 7, 1934, to William and Edna Faulkner. She grew up on a farm in western North Dakota, where she used her middle name to avoid confusion with her Mom (this change stuck) and attended Pleasant Hill Grade School. She married Ernest E. Pittsley in July, 1950, in Cartwright, Mont.
During their early married years she lived in Watford City, N.D., where she worked in a café and baby-sat. When Ernie began his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service they relocated to Hettinger, N.D., Elgin, N.D., and the Carson, N.D. She had four children; Sophia R. (Carr), Sally I. (Erhardt), Kenneth E. Pittsley, and Jimmy D. Pittsley. She raised her family in Carson, N.D., where she drove school busses for several years and was active in the Carson Homemakers Club (for nearly 50 years) as well as the Carson Wildlife Club.
She was honored for her volunteer work at Jacobson Memorial Hospital and Care Center. Her assistance was requested by Social Services and families to transport many seniors to their Doctor appointments. She also helped at Grant County Soil Conservation Service and the State Attorney’s office in various roles. For many years she was the food supplier for the annual Wildlife Club 3rd of July dance and gathering at the Carson Wildlife site on Lake Tschida near Elgin, N.D. Crafting of any kind was a treasured hobby along with fishing, snowmobile riding and working in her garden and yard.
Several years after losing Ernest to cancer in 2000, she moved to Newalla Okla., to be closer to Sophia who became her caregiver as early dementia began claiming her memory. She later relocated to Fountain Brook Assisted Living/ Memory Care in Midwest City, Okla., where she passed away peacefully on Dec.19, 2019, after a short illness complicated her CHF & COPD.
Rachel leaves behind a brother, Larry Faulkner of Arnegard, N.D.; four children, Sophia (Bill) Newalla, Okla., Sally (Larry) Mobridge, S.D., Ken Luther, Okla., and Jim (Vickie) Chandler, Okla.; eight grandchildren, Connie, Adam, Jessie, Amanda, Dustin, Colby, Dacia and Jedidiah; 15 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest E.; parents, William and Edna; brothers, Bill, Mach, Lester, Grover and Dean; and sisters, Loretta and Lydia.
Memorial service with interment, will be at Carson Cemetery, Carson, N.D., in the early Spring.