Kathryn Ann Felchle, 69, of Dickinson, ND, arrived in eternal peace on May 30th, 2023. Kathy’s Celebration of Life Service will be at 7 p.m., Monday, June 19, 2023 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
She was born March 28, 1954 in Carrington, ND to Linda (Nicolson) and Floyd Felchle. Kathy; a loving mother, intensely devoted worker, and unfathomably kind person; is survived by her two daughters, Jodee (Chris) Schmidt and Kirsten (Tim Hansen) Schmitt (Dickinson, ND); grandchildren Jorja, Emma, Caleb, and Elizabeth Schmidt and Jamison Schmitt; sister, Merrilee (John) Glover and niece, Amelia (Bozeman, MT); brother, Vince (Genie Price) Felchle (Dallas, TX); sister-in-law, Dawn Felchle (Driggs, ID); nephew, Brody (Heather) Felchle and great-nieces, Sabine and Delphine (Chicago, IL); uncle, Don Nicolson (Chandler, AZ); and many cousins, friends, and furry companions.
Growing up in Devils Lake, ND, Kathy had many hobbies from multiple track events to horseback riding along the lake to powder puff football and singing at practice to hype up her friends. She was an intense athlete growing up with two older brothers and a younger sister and continued to stay active. Upon graduation from Devils Lake High School Class of 1972, she went to NDSU for a short time before heading west to Idaho where she discovered her love for the mountains and trees. While in Idaho, she met and married James Root, who gave her the two greatest joys in her life.
Life in Idaho was beautiful and intense, but in 2000, Kathy packed up her girls, the house, and the horses and moved back to North Dakota to settle in Dickinson so they could be closer to family. She continued her career work with the government and worked for the US Forest Service Medora Ranger District where she met and worked with some of the best people in her life until her retirement in 2016. After her retirement, she spent several years watching grandkids, enjoying her animals and working with rescues, and finally catching up on sleep after years of long nights and early mornings.
Kathy was a naturally polite, intelligent, quick-witted person who could find the good in nearly anyone. She made friends everywhere she went and though she never worried much about her appearance, always managed to turn heads. She had simple taste with jeans, t-shirts, and sweatshirts; preferring to focus on providing for her daughters and animal companions before worrying about herself.
Kathy was an incredible woman, mother, and friend. The hole left by her loss will forever impact the people close to her and who love her, but Kathy was never one to dwell on the sad. She would have rather people remembered her as the vibrant, beautiful soul who would crack a joke or burst out singing before even considering folding under pressure; the strong woman who would offer to arm wrestle the fire and trail guys decades younger than her; the passionately devoted voice to rescues across the country; and the mother who never once left her children in the dark. Her fighting spirit will always be remembered and the time she was here on Earth greatly cherished.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Linda Felchle; father, Floyd Felchle; brother, Mitch (Dawn) Felchle; and several beloved dogs, cats, and horses who crossed the rainbow bridge before her to wait.
Kathy’s daughters request that any donations made in her name be made to local animal rescues.
