Katherine Ford, 86, died Thursday, February 20, 2003 at Northwest Medical Center, Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, February 24, 2003 " 2:00 PM at St. Josephs Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls, with Father Gerald Noesen celebrating. Burial will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Red Lake Falls.

Visitation will be 4:00 " 8:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, Sunday, February 23, 2003 at Johnson-Green Funeral Home, Thief River Falls and one hour prior to the service in the church on Monday.

Katherine Kaye Bertha Haupt was born February 22, 1916 in River Township, Red Lake County, MN, the daughter of George and Rosetta (Gedde) Haupt. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls, MN and attended country school. Following school, Kaye worked as domestic help in the Minneapolis and Red Lake Falls areas. Kaye worked in Red Lake Falls restaurants as a cook and waitress. She also worked many years as a Nurses Aide at St. Johns Hospital and Detroiter Mobile Homes, which she retired from in 1981. Following her retirement she worked as a Home Health Aide for Red Lake and Pennington County and was currently a caregiver for the Senior Companionship Program. In 1992 Kaye moved to Thief River Falls.

On November 4, 1941 Kaye was united in marriage to William Bill Ford at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls. The couple farmed Browns Creek Township for several years in Red Lake County before moving into Red Lake Falls.

She was an excellent cook, enjoyed baking, card playing, playing at the casino and crocheting. Kaye was a kind and caring person and her family was very important to her. She loved spending time with them.

She was a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls and currently a member of St. Bernards Catholic Church, Thief River Falls, Catholic Daughters, Catholic Order of Foresters, VFW and St. Annes Society.

Kaye is survived by five children: Sharon (Ellwood) Erickson, Oxnard, CA, Carolyn (Richard) Rahier, Grand Rapids, MN, Lorna (Vernon) Peterson, Red Lake Falls, MN, Michael (Deborah) Ford, Thief River Falls, MN and Terry (Julie) Ford, Papillion, NE; 11 grandchildren: Kevin (Brenda) Erickson, Lisa Erickson, James Rahier, Robert Rahier, Kenneth (Melissa) Rahier, Mary Jo Rahier, Tim (Paula) Peterson, Mark (Pam) Peterson, Amy Peterson, Adam Johnson and Tera Kaye Ford; 15 great grandchildren: Josh, Stephanie, Heather, Kyle, Kayla, Heather, Alicia, Nicholas, Alexandra, Danielle, Bobbi, Jacob, Rylee, Kyler and Kaden; one brother, John (Gladys) Haupt; brother-in-law, Richard Wichterman, Alexandria, MN; three sisters: Agnes Carriere, LaCresenta, CA, Mary Columbus, Coon Rapids, MN and Cecile (Art) Linden, LaCresenta, CA; two sisters-in-law: Mary (Walt) Bonnett, Edina, MN and Eunice Haupt, Red Lake Falls, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill in 1976; her parents; two brothers: Martin and Edward; and two sisters: Elizabeth and Clara.