Katherine Frances Doeden

Katherine Frances Doeden passed away Monday afternoon June 11, 2018 at the Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm early Sunday morning at her home in Miles City. She slipped away peacefully surrounded by her son, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. She was 75 years old.

Kathy was born on Sept. 17, 1942 in Los Angeles, California the first child of Frank and Lorene Speth. They moved around and lived in various towns in southern California, before settling in La Mesa, where she went to high school. She excelled at school and having a higher than average I.Q., she graduated from Gross Mont High at the age of 16. She then went on to the University of California, Davis for a short time before transferring to UC Berkeley. She graduated from there in 1963 with a degree of Bachelor of Arts with a Major in History. Kathy was not one to be content or idle and in the early 90's she got her Masters in English and Literature via online.

In 1965 at a restaurant next to the North Island naval base near San Diego, she was swept off her feet by a dashing young naval aviator named Jerry Doeden, who was dared to ask her if she wanted to sit with him. She agreed and they were married six months later on December 11, 1965. Kathy thought she was marrying a career pilot and live the good life – boy was she in for a shock! Two months later in February of 1966, Jerry moved her from Southern California to Eastern Montana in the middle of a bad winter. As they drove up and the weather continued to worsen, Kathy didn't speak to Jerry from Belle Fourche, SD all the way to Miles City.

After settling into Miles City, Kathy taught English at Custer County High School for several years before going to work in the family business – Doeden Construction Company. She also went back into teaching as a substitute teacher in the mid to late 80's. Her sons and their friends remember the pleasure of having her in the classroom.

While starting up a family in Miles City, Kathy raised three boys – Dirk (1969), Eric (1971), and her husband Jerry. Their house on Tompy Street was always open to family and friends and whomever her boys dragged home. She was always willing to do anything for her two sons and their friends and there are a lot of great memories from that house and time.

Kathy was always busy in the community and the State of Montana. She was especially involved and instrumental with the evolution of the Water Works Art Museum and a member of the Montana Historical Preservation Society, for which she received many honors and awards.

Kathy loved taking and sharing pictures and her photo albums are something that will be treasured forever. She loved traveling with her family and friends and has been all over this country and the world. She went on many adventures with her husband – "Mr. Fun", and their good friends Harold and Shirley Gierke, always bringing back great stories and photos.

Having been raised in Southern California, Kathy always enjoyed going back to visit her brother Steve, his wife Gretchen and their kids Jeff and Jenna. She especially enjoyed the ocean and watching the sun set into it with family and friends and a glass of wine. Kathy also had a house in Red Lodge, Montana which she enjoyed spending time at as well, no matter the season or reason. 

Kathy had many great accomplishments and achievements in life – too many to list here and for those of us lucky enough to have known her, we will forever remember her energy, her kindness, her generosity and willingness to help all others before herself, her love and devotion to family, her laughter and her beautiful smile.

Kathy was an amazing woman and although she was taken from us suddenly and too early, we were blessed to have her in our lives. She raised two fine sons and "Mr. Fun", who loved her more than anything. She was the greatest wife, the best mother to Dirk, Eric and their friends, an awesome grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, and the best big sister Steve ever had, and a great friend to all those who knew her. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Lorene Speth of Southern California. She is survived by her husband Jerry, her sons Dirk (Jonette) Doeden, Eric (Lori) Doeden, grandchildren: Bridger, Hunter, Jakob, Tate and Boone all of Miles City; her brother Steve (Gretchen) Speth, nephew Jeff Speth, niece Jenna (Brandon) Angus all from Southern California; sister-in-law Michelle (Butch) Kochel of Billings and their children Jared and Abby and her dog Bell.

The family would like to acknowledge all of their friends and the community for their overwhelming support, condolences, kind gestures, thoughts and prayers. It is much appreciated and a testament to what a wonderful woman she was and the family she raised and we thank you all. A special thanks of gratitude to the crew of Doeden Construction for all they do and giving us this time.

Kathy did make it know that she did not want any funeral services and the family is trying to honor her wishes. There may be a Celebration of Life at a later date. She wanted people to celebrate her life in their own way – perhaps by planting some flowers, watching the sunset, having a margarita or a cocktail with family and friends. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.