Kathleen Hamlin
January 26, 1948 ~ September 26, 2015
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
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Kathleen “Kathi” Kaye Hamlin, of Highmore SD, passed away Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 67 years, 8 months and 0 days.
Funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 3, 2015 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore with Pastor Sheena Thomson officiating. Burial followed in Highmore Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2015 at the church.
Kathleen Kaye (Johnson) Hamlin was born on January 26, 1948 in Washington to Fred and Betty (Evans) Johnson. In 1964, Kathi was introduced to her soon to be husband, Don, by friends of her family and relatives of his. Donald H. Hamlin and Kathleen K. Johnson were united in marriage on February 20, 1965. Soon to follow, they were blessed with the birth of a baby girl, Donita Kaye. Kathi was left to raise Donita with the help of her family as Don was sent to Vietnam for 18 months by the military. During this time, Kathi worked as a CNA at a nursing home while waiting for Don to come home. Upon his return, they were transferred to Springfield Illinois. In February of 1968, they were blessed with another child, a son, Donald Lyle. Soon after his birth, Kathi and Don uprooted their little family and moved to the family ranch in Holabird SD, where Don assisted his parents on the family farm. This is where Kathi started her Farm and Ranch Wife Education. Being a full blown "City Girl", this was quite a transition for her, but she dug in and learned it well.
Not long after her training began, they bought a little farm in Elkton, SD where they raised pigs and chickens. Don became the towns Chief of Police and Kathi cared for her family and babysat for their friends and neighbors.
In 1973, they took a big plunge, and bought a dairy farm in Glenwood, MN. Kathi continued her education there, raising her children, milking cows, and raising hogs and beef cattle, along with planting and harvesting crops, and all the other joys and heartbreaks of farming. Don and Kathi spent many long hours working side by side to build up their little place and turn it into something special.
After Donita and Donnie were out of school, Don and Kathi decided to rent out the Minnesota farm and move back to South Dakota where they ran Don's Parents (Gordon and Elzora) Ranch until his Parents passing.
Before moving to Holabird SD, Kathi owned and operated a fitness center. She opened and operated the business again in Highmore SD for a short while.
Kathi was an extremely talented and motivated woman. Her biggest love was doing crafts of any kind. She loved to sew and made many outfits for her daughter Donita for several occasions. She enjoyed cross stitching and crewel working and painting ceramics. She did many things with different kinds of wood which was like no other, and she loved doing it.
But by far, her greatest love was spending endless hours with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, watching movies, doing crafts , putting hours of thought into the perfect gifts and just plain enjoying their company. She enjoyed throwing darts with her team "Kathi's Klowns" and won several trophies and awards.
Kathi is survived by her husband Donald H. Hamlin; daughter, Donita (Elroy) Ratzlaff; son, Donald L Hamlin (Ann); grandchildren: Amanda (Mike) Wentlandt, Elizabeth Bleeker (Tasha), Christopher Bleeker, Benjamin Bleeker (Lindsey), Drake Hamlin (Michelle), Raymond Lyons (Lori), Sylvia (Andrew) Pelletier, Addie Lyons-Lamothe (Gregory); great grandchildren: Kaydence, Jocelynn and Holden Wentlandt, Christian Pelletier, Haley Ruppert, and Riley and Wyatt Briggs; three brothers, Jerry (Pascal) Johnson of Colorado, Lyle (Jan) Johnson of Oklahoma, and Doug (Sheri) Johnson of Washington; several nieces and nephews; and her pup "Scooby".
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ronald Johnson and sister-in-law, Jean Johnson.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Kathi’s arrangements.
Kathleen “Kathi” Kaye Hamlin, of Highmore SD, passed away Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 67 years, 8 months and 0 days.
Funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 3, 2015 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore with Pastor Sheena Thomson officiating. Burial followed in Highmore Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2015 at the church.
Kathleen Kaye (Johnson) Hamlin was born on January 26, 1948 in Washington to Fred and Betty (Evans) Johnson. In 1964, Kathi was introduced to her soon to be husband, Don, by friends of her family and relatives of his. Donald H. Hamlin and Kathleen K. Johnson were united in marriage on February 20, 1965. Soon to follow, they were blessed with the birth of a baby girl, Donita Kaye. Kathi was left to raise Donita with the help of her family as Don was sent to Vietnam for 18 months by the military. During this time, Kathi worked as a CNA at a nursing home while waiting for Don to come home. Upon his return, they were transferred to Springfield Illinois. In February of 1968, they were blessed with another child, a son, Donald Lyle. Soon after his birth, Kathi and Don uprooted their little family and moved to the family ranch in Holabird SD, where Don assisted his parents on the family farm. This is where Kathi started her Farm and Ranch Wife Education. Being a full blown "City Girl", this was quite a transition for her, but she dug in and learned it well.
Not long after her training began, they bought a little farm in Elkton, SD where they raised pigs and chickens. Don became the towns Chief of Police and Kathi cared for her family and babysat for their friends and neighbors.
In 1973, they took a big plunge, and bought a dairy farm in Glenwood, MN. Kathi continued her education there, raising her children, milking cows, and raising hogs and beef cattle, along with planting and harvesting crops, and all the other joys and heartbreaks of farming. Don and Kathi spent many long hours working side by side to build up their little place and turn it into something special.
After Donita and Donnie were out of school, Don and Kathi decided to rent out the Minnesota farm and move back to South Dakota where they ran Don's Parents (Gordon and Elzora) Ranch until his Parents passing.
Before moving to Holabird SD, Kathi owned and operated a fitness center. She opened and operated the business again in Highmore SD for a short while.
Kathi was an extremely talented and motivated woman. Her biggest love was doing crafts of any kind. She loved to sew and made many outfits for her daughter Donita for several occasions. She enjoyed cross stitching and crewel working and painting ceramics. She did many things with different kinds of wood which was like no other, and she loved doing it.
But by far, her greatest love was spending endless hours with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, watching movies, doing crafts , putting hours of thought into the perfect gifts and just plain enjoying their company. She enjoyed throwing darts with her team "Kathi's Klowns" and won several trophies and awards.
Kathi is survived by her husband Donald H. Hamlin; daughter, Donita (Elroy) Ratzlaff; son, Donald L Hamlin (Ann); grandchildren: Amanda (Mike) Wentlandt, Elizabeth Bleeker (Tasha), Christopher Bleeker, Benjamin Bleeker (Lindsey), Drake Hamlin (Michelle), Raymond Lyons (Lori), Sylvia (Andrew) Pelletier, Addie Lyons-Lamothe (Gregory); great grandchildren: Kaydence, Jocelynn and Holden Wentlandt, Christian Pelletier, Haley Ruppert, and Riley and Wyatt Briggs; three brothers, Jerry (Pascal) Johnson of Colorado, Lyle (Jan) Johnson of Oklahoma, and Doug (Sheri) Johnson of Washington; several nieces and nephews; and her pup "Scooby".
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ronald Johnson and sister-in-law, Jean Johnson.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Kathi’s arrangements.
A Visitation was held on October 2, 2015 at 4:00 PM at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 515 4th St. SE in Highmore, South Dakota 57345
A Funeral Service was held on October 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 515 4th St. SE in Highmore, South Dakota 57345
A Graveside Service was held on October 3, 2015 at Highmore Cemetery in Highmore, South Dakota 57345
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Our sincere sympathy to all of you.
I’m so sorry about your loss. Kathi was a great gal. I spent many nights shooting darts with her. Our favorite song. Where am I going to live when I get home. Well. she is home now looking down and smiling on us all. I loved her smile. She will definitely be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Thoughts and prayers to all family
Aunt Kathi, we will miss you always. Our hearts and prayers are for those left behind who feel your absence greatly. We love you Uncle Donnie and family.
I am so sorry to hear of Kathi’s passing. I remember her well from when I lived in Highmore. She was a very nice lady and I will never forget her laugh! I enjoyed watching the tribute video and all the family pictures. It’s nice you have so many great memories together!
I love you