Katherine M. Longden, 92, Sturgis, died Tuesday, September 3, 2013, at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center.

Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. A rosary service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 7, 2013, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis with Fr. Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Aloysius Cemetery.

Katherine Magalena (Lei) Longden was born on October 9, 1920, to Wilhelm Giphart (Gip) and Edna (Hutter) Lei at Newell, SD. Katherine lived with her folks and three sisters on the Gip Lei ranch in Harding County. She attended country schools located near the ranch until high school. She then attended school in Spearfish, SD, from which she graduated from in 1940. Katherine returned to the ranch to work with her parents and during this time she would meet her future husband, Floyd Longden. On July 24, 1940, Katherine was married to Floyd E. Longden at Mason, SD. They lived and worked on the Gip Lei Ranch until the fall of 1945.

In 1945, the couple with children, Paul (1941) and Paulette (1942), moved to Sturgis, SD, where Floyd worked for Dave Marsh. Katherine set up household and raised their children. Two more children were added, Betty Ann (1948) and Stephen (1952). She raised her family and saw children on their way to life. As Steve got older Katherine found work at the Steak House as a baker. In July 1962, Katherine was hired at Ft. Meade VAMC as a dietary aid. She continually worked until her retirement in July 1982.

After retirement, Katherine and her husband became very active in the Catholic Church and various Senior Citizens Centers. She was a member of St.Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Catholic Lady's Altar Society, and the Sturgis Senior Citizens Center. Her numerous hobbies included canning, cooking, gardening, crossword puzzles, crocheting, volksmarches, and going to garage sales with Floyd.

Survivors include three children, Paul of Redig, SD, Paulette Tryon of Belle Fourche, SD, and Betty Christensen of Sturgis; seventeen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marie (Richard) Smith of Redig, SD, and Marjorie Lyons of Sturgis, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews, and a very special friend, Greta Wall of Redig, SD.

Her parents, her husband, one son, one sister, and two grandsons preceded her in death.

Memorials have been established to the Meade County Senior Center and the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

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