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Service
As per Adrienne's wishes, there will be no funeral services.

Adrienne Sonja Stepanek
June 26, 1937 - November 21, 2025

Place of Birth: Rawson, North Dakota
Residence: Williston, North Dakota
Age: 88

Adrienne Stepanek, 88, passed away peacefully November 21st at Bethel Lutheran Home in Williston, ND.

Adrienne Heggen was born June 26, 1937 in Rawson ND. She graduated from
Alexander HS in 1955 and married Richard Stepanek in June of 1955. She was a wonderful mother to Jeri and Jon and spent a lifetime caring and making memories for family and friends.

Adrienne worked as Librarian at Williston HS and Williston Public Library. She worked at Riverview Cemetery in Williston where she created mapping and identification of grave sites. Adrienne was instrumental in creating the Garden of the Angels children’s burial site. Adrienne lived her life in pursuit of facts and information. She was fascinated with genealogy and historical research. She was often called on to find the background of people, places, and things. Historical records of the region are more robust today because of her curiosity and drive to find answers. Adrienne and Doreen Chaky recently co-authored a book called "Lynched, Mob Murders on the Northern Great Plains". It details the vigilante justice carried out around the turn of the century. The book was honored by the National Independent Press Association in 2024 as Best in US History.

She was generous with her time, talent and treasure for a variety of causes in the Williston area. She was a board member and volunteered at the James Art Gallery. She enjoyed sharing her heritage with members of the Sons of Norway. She was a Member of First Lutheran Church. She enjoyed the time spent with friends in Homemakers.

Adrienne was proceeded in death by her husband Richard and parents Howard and Julia Heggen. She is survived by her sisters Roberta Sawicki and Wanda Monson, Daughter Jeri Enberg (John), Son Jon Stepanek (Madonna), Grandchildren Albert Puchany (Anna) Rose Gumz (Craig) Paul Stepanek (Kristi) Claire Scott (Ben) and 5 great grandchildren Caleb, Grant, Felix, Lainey and Sonja.

Her love of research is a distant second to the love of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who will miss her dearly.

In honor of her wishes there will be no memorial service. Those wishing to make a donation in her honor please consider the Williston Community Library (North Dakota History room) or a charity of your choice.

Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston is assisting the family.

Memorial Contribution

Those wishing to make a donation in her honor please consider the Williston Community Library (North Dakota History room) or a charity of your choice.

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Susan (Williston, ND)
Nov 22, 2025

Adrienne, thank you! Family, thank you.
What a worker in everything she did! I met her at Good Shepherd or perhaps before. Your father delivered propane to our farm; always nice visits with Richard.

JJ Njos-Olson (Deadwood, SD)
Nov 22, 2025

May she rest in peace. She was a beautiful person and has a beautiful soul! I enjoyed exploring our family history with her! I am so happy I was able to get to know her and share stories about our ancestors. Heaven has gained a wonderful angel

Monica Essen Haskin (Williston , ND)
Nov 22, 2025

I am deeply saddened to hear of all your loss. Saying goodbye is never easy. I know she is reunited with her husband, Richard and she is celebrating with all her loved ones that passed before her. She is rejoicing with our Heavenly Father. She was such a beautiful lady, inside and outside. She was always so sweet. I loved visiting with her whenever I got the chance. Cherish all your memories and keep them close to your hearts. She is always with you, she is guiding you through this thing we call life. Gods garden received a beautiful soul.
RIP Adrienne

Lori (Arroyo Grande, California )
Nov 22, 2025

Jon & Family,
I’m so sorry for the huge loss of your Mom/Grandma. What a big loss for you all. I hope all your special memories will bring you some comfort. Much love, Lori

Debbie Slais (Williston, ND)
Nov 23, 2025

Jeri and Jon, my sincere sympathy to you and your families. Adrienne was a wonderful lady and a dear friend since our days of working together at the James Memorial Library and the Williston Community Library. Her attention to detail was unmatched as evidenced by the books and articles she published. May you find comfort in the fact that those who knew her loved her very much.

Karen Quick (White Bear Township, Mn)
Nov 23, 2025

Jeri, so sorry for the loss of your mother. She was a great genealogist and a lot of her knowledge of western North Dakota she wrote down for future generations to enjoy and learn from. Take care of yourself. Karen Quick

Tom Heggen (Red Lodge, MT)
Nov 23, 2025

I have many great childhood memories! Tubba, Richey, and family were always fun to be around. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Tom

Toni and Rory Anderson (Williston, ND)
Nov 23, 2025

Adrienne was a beautiful lady. One of the kindest people we have ever met. I can only images the joy she will bring to heaven because she brought joy and sunshine to those of us who knew her. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Our deepest sympathies.

C'Dale (Jenner McBride) Jore (Williston, ND)
Nov 23, 2025

I am blessed to have known dear Adrienne for much of my life. My dad, Harry, was from Alex, too. What an honor to get to know her even better in these later years through McBride Decorating & looking for graves! With my sympathy, C'Dale

Toni and Rory Anderson (Williston, ND)
Nov 23, 2025

Nancy Vickers (Williston, ND)
Nov 23, 2025

I enjoyed work with Adrienne at the James Memorial Library. Adrienne was one of the first people I met when we moved to Williston. Adrienne was a kind, knowledgeable, interesting, gentle Lady. Williston has lost an icon. Williston will miss her. R.I.P. Adrienne, Williston will miss you.

Layne Kirby Holm (Alamo, ND)
Nov 24, 2025

Jeri & Jon
I am so sorry for your loss. I have many memories of your mom and your family as we were growing up, many good times we had.She always had a smile on her face. Cherish your memories.

Lynn Altizer (BOZEMAN, MT)
Nov 24, 2025

Knowing Adrienne was a joy and a blessing for our family. Thank you for sharing your mom/grandma. Lynn and Jeff Altizer

Chelsey Johnson (WILLISTON, ND)
Nov 24, 2025

Met you because of college. You were fun to talk to. Learned a lot about chinaman's Cooley from you.

Dave Arnson (Williston, ND)
Nov 25, 2025

To Jeri, John, Wanda & Bubba, sorry to hear of the loss of Tubba. I knew Ritchie & Tubba she was a sister to Wanda Monson whom I grew up around. Then after spending 25 years on The Rural Fire Dept, after Ritchie’s’ time on the Rural Dept, I reached out to Tubba a few years ago about identifying some old fire dept pictures, she invited me over to her house and I spent at least a couple hours going thru old fire dept articles she had collected over the years, best couple of hours I ever spent. She was a wealth of knowledge and resources. She was really excited because she had just published a book, waiting on the printed copies. It was an honor to know her and the vast knowledge she had.. Thoughts and prayers to the family. Dave Arnson

Susan Markovitz (Birmingham, Alabama)
Nov 26, 2025

Jeri and Jon, your mom was a true scholar. I'm so impressed with the work she did in her later years. A life well lived. My sympathy to you both. love, Susie

Steve and Sherry (Tinley Park)
Nov 26, 2025

Jeri our condolences on the passing of your mom, even though they are old and it’s their time it’s hard to let them go! Their book Lynched is an excellent book, You can tell by all the footnotes all the work that was put in to it! Another piece of Legacy for your family!

Pauline Everson (Williston , ND)
Nov 29, 2025

She was a special lady. I am going to miss her. She helped with me with my ancestry journey, and it was a blessing to visit with her at Bethel and share communion.

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