Katherine Louise Willaman Harvey, 78
Katherine Louise Willaman Harvey, 78, passed away on Aug. 4, 2007, at Immanuel Lutheran Home, from complications of Alzheimer's. Kathy was born in New York City on Aug. 17, 1928, to Robert and Grace Willaman. As a young girl, the family moved to Salt Point, N.Y., where Kathy attended grade school and high school. She graduated valedictorian of her high school class in 1945.
She attended New Jersey College for Women in New Brunswick, N.J., and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1949.
Immediately following graduation she and two friends set off on a cross-country trip, and when they traveled through Kalispell, Kathy applied for a job with the Daily Inter Lake. She was subsequently hired as the society editor and she moved to Kalispell in the fall of 1949, fulfilling her childhood dream of living in the West.
In 1951, she left her job to marry Robert Harvey, a Kalispell rancher. They were married on March 18, 1951, in New York and the couple lived in the Stillwater area until Kathy moved into the Lutheran Home in 2006.
She returned to journalism several times throughout her life and worked for several area newspapers over the years including the Hungry Horse News. Her final job was working as a guide at the Conrad Mansion, a job she very much enjoyed.
She was active in many local groups and in her church. She loved to read and learn new things and to travel.
She loved her family and was especially fond and proud of her two grandsons.
She is survived by her husband, Bob, of Kalispell; daughter, Gail Drew, and husband, Bruce, of Kalispell; son, Rick Harvey, of Billings; and daughter, Sara Martin, and husband, Tony, of Whitefish; two grandsons, Bret and Randy Martin; brother, John, and wife, Joan, of Byron, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Stillwater Free Lutheran Church with Rev. Tim Bartholomew officiating.
The family suggests remembrances be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Hospice, Conrad Mansion or to Stillwater Free Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.