Katherine Baeth
<p>Katherine (Kitty) Baeth</p>
Our beloved Katherine (Kitty) Baeth, passed away on a warm summer day, June 24, 2015. Born on August 25, 1924, in Post Falls, Idaho to Paul and Leona Read, she was the eldest of five children (two of whom died in infancy). When she was three years old, her parents moved to Missoula, where she attended schools, graduating from Missoula County High School in 1942.
Kitty worked as a Western Union operator in Missoula, Coeur d’Alene and Wallace, Idaho and later as an office manager in Dillon. It was in Dillon that she first met and later married Kenneth Baeth of Libby in October of 1945.
She was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, serving as secretary for more than 11 years. She also actively served the education program at the church. Some of her greatest joys came in teaching youth and adults.
Her passions included painting in acrylics and pastels, even winning Spokane’s New Artist of the Year. She loved writing poems and rhymes. Despite claiming to be a frustrated gardener, her garden flowers and wild flowers bloomed abundantly. She was a fantastic cook and hostess, and an omnivorous reader until her passing.
Ken and Kitty raised three children: Roger, Randy and Janet. Her family was her greatest joy and she relished the addition of each new member of the family.
Kitty was preceded in death by both parents, her brother Harry Read and her husband Ken of 68 years. She is survived by her loving sister, Barbara (Charlie) Binney of Port Townsend, Wash., and children Roger (May) of Missoula, Randy (Dixie) of Federal Way, Wash., Jan (Clint) Westrope of Billings, plus numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Christ Lutheran Church Education Program.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 21, at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home.
Online condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.