Kathryn (Kathy) Vatthauer of Red Lake Falls passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on June 2, 2021 at the age of 74.

Funeral service will be held at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls on Wednesday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Gary Graff and Timothy Denney officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Red Lake Falls. Visitation will also take place one hour before the funeral service on Wednesday. A prayer service will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with visitation from 4-8 p.m.

Kathryn Kay (Svendsgaard) Vatthauer was born on March 28, 1947 to Charles and Marie (Wayne) Svendsgaard as their fourth of four children. She was a proud native of Mavie who was raised on a Holstein dairy farm and participated in community, 4-H, and church activities. Kathy was baptized and confirmed into Lutheran faith. Kathy attended Goodridge Elementary School then transferred to the Thief River Falls school system. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965. Later that year, she attended the Thief River Falls Vocational School's Principles of Accounting Program. Upon graduation, she began her employment at Northern State Bank. For more than 45 years, Kathy valued every Northern State Bank co-worker as a true friend!

Kathy was married on September 21, 1968 to Donald Vatthauer. Family was everything to Kathy and Don as they raised their two children, Dale and Kristen, on a farm South of Red Lake Falls. The 4-H program played an important part of raising their family as Dale and Kristen were involved with numerous 4-H projects, which included showing their Registered Black Angus cattle at the various county fairs. Kathy was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Red Lake Falls where she served as a Sunday School teacher, Elder, Deacon, Clerk of the Session, and sang in the church choir. She loved singing with JoAnn Zutz and being accompanied by Carol Thompson, as the trio provided beautiful music at many local funerals for more than three decades. Kathy deeply loved her seven grandchildren, was always up for playing a good card game, was known for her endless delicious recipes, and was a die-hard Minnesota Twins fan. She will truly be missed by her family, many friends, and Northern State Bank co-workers.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Donald Vatthauer; son Dale (Jessica) of Wheaton, MN; daughter Kristen (Tom) Berning of Otsego, MN; grandchildren: Gracie, Gentrie, Gradie, and Grissum Vatthauer; and Anthony, Kathryn (Katy), and Lauren Berning. Kathy is also survived by her two amazing brothers Dale Svendsgaard (special friend Terri Armstrong) and William (Aljean) Svendsgaard. Other survivors include: brother-in-law Ernest (Theresa) Vatthauer; sisters-in-law Irene Rafferty and Fern Vatthauer; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Marie Svendsgaard; mother-in-law and father-in-law Laura and Henry Vatthauer; sister and best friend Karen Thygeson, and niece Krystal Svendsgaard.