Elaine Laurece Martin Bicek, age 90, died at her home in Tracy on November 5, 2013.  A graveside cremation service will be held late Spring of 2014.  In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, the family would love to hear your stories and remembrances of Elaine on the Tracy Area Funeral Home guest book website www.stephensfuneralservice.com or by mail to the family home at 205 E. Craig Ave., Tracy, MN  56175.  Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Elaine Laurece Martin Bicek was born in Green Island, Iowa on February 1, 1923 to Theodore and Laura Martin.  She grew up on the farm in Iowa along with two sisters and a brother.  Growing up she spent many weekends at barn dances throughout the area as her parents were accomplished musicians who played the violin and piano.  She graduated from LaMoille, Iowa High School at the age of seventeen, worked for two years at an engineering firm, then went on to major in business at Iowa State University where, at a “mixer”, she met Ernie Bicek, a veterinary student. After teaching high school business for two years in Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa she married “Doc” Bicek in 1947 and joined him in his veterinary practice in Tracy where they worked as a team.  She ran the business and he took care of the animals.  Folks said she knew as much about the veterinary practice as her husband.  While raising four children, among other things, she volunteered as a Cub Scout leader and Campfire leader, and had a huge vegetable and flower garden.  After her husband passed away in 1992, she continued her avid interest in bird watching, flower and vegetable gardening, and beekeeping.  In her sixties she became a dedicated volunteer EMT with the Tracy Ambulance Service serving for over 20 years.  Throughout her life she was well known for making dozens of pans of caramel rolls, bread, cookies, and candies for church bazaars and other fundraisers.

She is preceded in death by her sisters and brother, husband, Ernie (1992) and oldest son, Ken (2009). She is survived by children Chuck (Susan) Bicek of Boise, Idaho, twins Diane (David) Schnelli of Springfield, Oregon and David Bicek of Bemidji, MN, and Ken’s fiancée, Debbie Shambour.  She had eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.