Katharine Kay Ekeren

EKEREN KATHARINE KAY

Katharine Kay Ekeren (60) of Yankton, SD passed away peacefully on 1-31-2025 after a brief illness.  Honoring her wishes, there will be a Memorial Graveside service at 2:00 PM, Thursday, February 6, 2025 at the Vangen Lutheran Cemetery, Mission Hill, SD. with Rev. Randy Tramp officiating.  The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory, Yankton, SD has been entrusted with the service details.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com .  To view Katharine’s service live stream, click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/ERPAk .

She was born on 11-1-1964 to Darrell and June Ekeren. She grew up in Mission Hill, SD. She graduated from Yankton High School in 1983. She then worked in the Yankton nursing homes until she started college at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 1990. Kathy was employed at the Human Service Center in Yankton for many years until she retired. She then worked at Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services up until the time of her death.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kathy was cherished for her generosity and love for family and friends. She always remembered every birthday, anniversary and holiday with a greeting card. For years every Christmas, her immediate family received a goodie bag filled with sweet treats. Family and friends were important to her; she texted daily with her siblings. She rarely missed a family gathering.

She was taken from our lives too soon, she will be missed and thought of often.

Kathy is survived by her father, Darrell Ekeren of Mission Hill, SD. Her siblings: Peg Ekeren, Hastings, NE; Laurie (Jeff) Heier, Rawlins, WY; Brian (Sara) Ekeren Mexia, TX, Keith (Shannon) Ekeren, Sioux Falls, SD. Her nephews and nieces; Jesse (Anna) Erickson, Fort Worth, TX; Emily (Avery) Rothleutner, Gillette, WY; Zach Ekeren, Sioux Falls, SD; Parker Ekeren, Sioux Falls, SD and Logan Ekeren, Sioux Falls, SD. And one great nephew Leif Rothleutner, Gillette, WY. As well as a host of uncles, aunts and cousins. Kathy is preceded in death by her mother June Ekeren, brother-in-law Craig Erickson and a host of relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to a charity of your choice or to the family in care of Laurie Heier 1716 Loch Ness Drive Rawlins, WY 82301.