Skelton, Kathlyn (1923-2014)

SKELTON, BURKHOLDER, CATE, RAASCH, LLOYD, CHITTENDON, NEUBERG, BOSLER, MILLS, METT

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/31/2014 at 13:36:35

Kathlyn Skelton
April 15, 1923 - November 2, 2014

Kathlyn Skelton died on Sunday, November 2, 2014, at the Sioux Care Center in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, at the age of 91.

Kathie Skelton was born on April 15, 1923, in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, to Earl Q. and Mildred Mae (Cate) Burkholder. She graduated from high school at Cornell, Iowa, and earned a teaching degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. She taught elementary school at Laurens, Iowa, before marrying her high school sweetheart, Nathan Skelton, on May 21, 1944, at the Congregational Church in Sioux Rapids. Following their marriage, they began farming near Greenville, Iowa.

Kathie participated fully in the farming operation, helping with the planting and harvesting of the crops, tilling of the fields, and caring for the livestock, which included cattle, hogs, and laying hens. She took the responsibility for the daily chores of feeding and caring for the hens as well as gathering, washing, and packaging the eggs from a large laying operation.

Dedicated to her church, she taught religious education classes to generations of children. In addition, she sang in the church choir, served on many committees, and actively participated in the Women’s Fellowship. For many years, she hosted a weekly Bible study meeting for adults in her home. Her church and her church family were very special to her. A member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over fifty years, she served in numerous posts, including that of Worthy Matron. Moreover, she spent nearly thirty-five years with her Monday night group where she formed many loving and long-lasting relationships.

Whether with family or friends, Kathie rarely passed up an opportunity to play board or card games. She reveled in winning the Five Hundred “high prize” that might amount to as much as ten or twelve cents.

In her 80s, she learned to operate a computer and use email to better communicate with family and friends spread out all over the world. Like many of us, her computer knowledge was limited, and she would become frustrated when “the darned thing didn’t work.”

Kathie touched the lives of many people. A long-time family friend offering condolences wrote, “She was one of those people whose life had a leavening effect on the quality of life for all who knew her. She will be missed.”

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Carol Raasch, of Odebolt, Iowa, Dan (Karen) Skelton, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, Janet Lloyd, of Severn, Maryland, and Roger (Kristin) Skelton, of Rembrandt, Iowa; thirteen grandchildren: Jennifer (Aaron) Chittendon; Doug (Sonya) Lloyd; Amy (Carter) Neuberg; Greg (Melissa), Jeff (Cassie), Mark (Cyndi), and Scott (Stacy) Raasch; Ben (Tanya), Bryan, Jacob (Jessica), Jessica, Matthew (Ally), and Zachary (Chanda) Skelton; her great-grandchildren: Ashley and Cody (Heather) Bosler; Alexandria and Dante’ Chittenden; Gus and Max Neuberg; Gracie, Isabella, Mills, Saige, Tyler, and Ways Raasch; and Chase, Enoch, Hayley, Naomi, and Theo Skelton; her great-great-grandchild, Maddie Bosler; and her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Skelton, of Kalispell, Montana, and Thelma (Chuck) Mills, of Spencer, Iowa, as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.

Kathie was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her sisters, Margret Anne Mett and Dorothy Cate Burkholder; and her brother, George Robert (Bob) Burkholder; her sons-in-law, Curt Raasch and Larry Lloyd.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Burial will follow in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place on Friday, November 21, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Copyright © 2014, Sliefert Funeral Homes

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