Catherine Fastnacht
August 7, 1919 ~ February 22, 2014
Catherine Fastnacht, 94, of Miller, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller.
Funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Visitation began at 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, rural Wessington.
Catherine Irene was born August 7, 1919 to William and Irene (Hale) Aldrich on the family farm in Sand Creek Township. She attended all years of school at Sand Creek Consolidated School. She received her teaching certificate from Wessington Springs College, costing her $100.00. After graduating, she taught in country schools in Beadle and Hand County. Her first year of teaching she received $45.00 per month. On February 28, 1941, she married Ed Fastnacht in Huron, South Dakota.
In her spare time, she enjoyed taking bus trips with the Farmers Union, fishing with her husband and embroidering. She was a member of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, 4-H member in Beadle County, 4-H leader in Hand County, and later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Miller.
Grateful to have shared in her life is her daughter, Barbara Demos of Ocala, FL; daughter-in-law, Mickey Fastnacht of Phillips, NE; grandson, Brant (Dorinda) Fastnacht; granddaughter, Kelly Fastnacht; two great grandchildren: William and Alyssa Fastnacht; two sisters: Dorothy (John) Clouser of Wolsey, and Betty (Elmer) Presuhn of Virgil and one brother, William (Barbara) Aldrich of Huron.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed in 1995; son, Kenneth in 2013; twin son at birth; son-in-law, Peter Demos in 2005; sisters: Doris (Ross) Schiltz, Isabell (Ward) Goodall and Hazel (Frank) Curtis.
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Dear Barb, Mickey, Brant & Dorinda and family, and Kelly:
Thinking of your family and you at this time.
Great Aunt Catherine was wonderful! She taught me when I was in grade school at Rowen country school. I especially remember her instructing me on my penmanship and giving me grammar lessons! She was also my teacher in Sunday School and Bible School at Rose Hill.
Later and across the years, whenever we visited, whether at Ed and Catherine’s farm, at family reunions and church gatherings, then their home in Miller, and when she was in the rest home, she always gave me an update on her kids and grandkids. And she always asked about my own family and me: how dad and mom were, whether it was well with my siblings and their kids, and anything I might have heard about other relatives and neighbors near and far — basically, how all of us were doing!
I will always cherish Catherine’s love of family and community and never forget her example of care and concern for others.
My most vivid childhood memories of great Aunt Catherine, Uncle Ed, Barb and Ken are from Sundays at Rose Hill Presbyterian Church-their family often sat behind the Richard Moser family and I was amazed that Dad had an “Aunt”!
I have visited Aunt Catherine at the Miller Nursing Home on my many South Dakota trips these past few years, most recently for her August birthday and she was always delighted to have a fresh baked cookie.
My sincere sympathies and love to the family, Mary Jo
My condolences to the Fastnacht family. It’s never easy saying goodbye to someone you love. The Bible however, shows us that this isn’t a forever goodbye. God gives us the promise that we will be able to see our dead loved ones again soon. (John 5:28-29) I hope this helps you cope during this difficult time.
Barb
Sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom.I remember her & your Dad well from when you all would come to my grandparents. The Crists. Sorry also to hear of Kenny.
May the Lord be with you always.
Barb & families
We are so sorry to hear of Great Aunt Catherine passing .
I remember many a Sunday dinner at the Fastnacht house .
I had the pleasure of visiting with Catherine a couple times when we were in S.D. for the summer . She Always remembered me & asked about my family .
She will be missed .
Prayers & Blessings to all .
What an amazing lady Aunt Catherine was. She always knew who I belonged to when we would see her at family reunions and always had a hug and a smile for everyone. She lived a good life
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all at this time. We will miss visiting with Aunt Catherine at family reunions. Sorry we cannot be with you on Sat.