Katie (Kukla) Kohones, 100, Killdeer, entered peacefully into rest on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at Hill Top Home of Comfort, Killdeer. Katie’s funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Friday, December 11, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Killdeer with Reverend Joel Sauerwein officiating, interment will follow at Killdeer Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, at 4:30 until 5:30 p.m. at Hill Top Home of Comfort, Killdeer, and at the church from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.. There will be prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service time at the church on Friday.
Katie Dirkach was born December 7, 1908 at Boyrka, Russia, the second oldest child of Sam and Molly (Sauke) Dirkach. Katie, along with her family, came to the United States in 1917 where she grew up on a homestead near Grassy Butte, and later on the family farm near Manning.
On November 10, 1927, Katie married Harris H. Kukla, Sr. at Manning. They made their home on a farm southeast of Killdeer until retiring in 1960 when they moved to Killdeer, Harris passed away in 1965. Katie later married Kaption Kohones and continued to live in Killdeer. In 1995, Katie moved into Evergreen Inn, Dickinson and lived there until 2002 when she became a resident of Hill Top Home of Comfort.
Katie was a long-time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, WELCA, and Badlands Senior Citizens. Katie enjoyed quilting, sewing, and gardening, but most of all she enjoyed time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Katie is survived by seven children, Emma Brenneman, Sheridan, Wyo., Ida Erickson, Seattle, Wash., Ruth Jordan, Richey, Mont., Walter (Ardis) Kukla, Killdeer, Inez (Bruce) Bobb, Bozeman, Mont., Harris (Eileen) Kukla, Jr., Garrison, and Edna (Gary) Lawhead, Killdeer; 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Katie was preceded in death by her husbands, Harris Sr., and Kaption; one son, William; three sisters, Alice, Mary, and Lena; three brothers, John, George, and Joe; three sons-in-law, Lloyd Brenneman, Larry Erickson, and Tony Jordan and one great-granddaughter, Ashley Kukla.
