Catherine Frances Petersen, 64

Catherine Frances Petersen, born Jan. 27, 1951, to Henry and Cecelia Heil in San Diego, died from complications of diabetes in her Kalispell home Aug. 19, 2015. 

Cremation has taken place as conducted by Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home of Kalispell. A celebration of Cathy’s life will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2900 Ninth Ave. S., Great Falls.

Cathy grew up in San Diego and graduated from Crawford High School in 1969. She was a dedicated candy striper at Grossmont Hospital and avid baby-sitter.

She married Chuck Ellis upon graduation and bore two children, Shannon and Shawna. She later divorced. Cathy worked as a secretary and bookkeeper while raising her two children. On Dec. 26, 1982, Cathy married the Rev. Jim Petersen, pastor of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa.

In September of 1983, Cathy and Jim and their two children moved to Great Falls where Jim served as the minister of the First Congregational Church for the next 31 years until his retirement. Cathy and Jim proceeded to adopt seven special needs children, Jill Seifert, Katrina, Laura Flaherty, J.J., Annie, Sarah and Katie. Cathy and Jim were Cascade County Foster Parents of the Year in 1986. The family spent many summers camping at Lake Five outside of West Glacier and subsequently on their own camping property off of Glen Lake outside of Eureka. 

Cathy was a gifted quilter and popular quilting teacher for adult education and at various fabric stores, as well as in her own home. She was a sewer, weaver and hand crafter of many mediums. She collected dolls, plates, antiques and seasonal decorations. She was a homemaker, housekeeper, cook and dedicated mom. She served on church boards and taught Sunday School, and belonged to Junior League, PEO and various quilt and weaving guilds. She loved reading, especially aloud to her children and grandchildren, and she loved her dogs, Princess, Patches, Pokey and Bella. 

Cathy and Jim retired to their newly built Kalispell home in March of this year. 

Cathy will be remembered for her generosity, compassion, selflessness, sense of humor and authenticity. She was humble and unpretentious as she gave her life to others. 

 Cathy is survived by her children, Shannon and Zanette of San Diego, Shawna Holskey and Dan of Eureka, Katrina, Annie and Sarah of Great Falls, and J.J. and Katie of Kalispell; grandchildren Brent, Jack and Ivy Petersen, Sydney and Jessie Schmidt, Amanda and Chrissa Holskey, and Alexander Neices; and a great-granddaughter, Lynlee Schmidt; her father, Henry Heil, of San Diego; sisters, Lisa Heil and Robert Steinberg of San Diego, and Marianne Vicencio of San Francisco; brother, David, and Sherry, of San Diego; her aunt, Marianne Smalley, of Edgewater Maryland; and many cousins, nephews and nieces. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Cecelia Heil, and two daughters, Jill and Laura.

Charities are suggested to the First Congregational United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, or to the charity of the donors choice. In lieu of flowers, donations to charities in memory of Cathy are preferred.