What is it to plan?

We spend our life making so many plans. From what we want to be when we grow up to who we want to marry. We plan our wedding day, families, birthdays, and holidays. Yet, we don't plan on when or how our life will end. We especially don't plan on letting go of someone we love. We weren't planning for our beloved Katie to depart this world. God chose to bring Katie home on Easter Sunday, April 17th, 2022.

As Easter is a day of joy, this fits every part of Katie. To try to make those who didn't know her understand how sweet and beautiful her soul was in words is difficult; to those who did know her it is unnecessary—for all who met her knew. She constantly navigated this world looking for people in need of a laugh or a simple conversation to ease their burdens. She was a once-in-a-lifetime person that lit up a room by walking into it—yet would immediately focus on putting everyone else at ease and using her incredible heart and gift of empathy.

With these innate gifts, it isn't a surprise that she graduated Black Hills State and became a kindergarten teacher at Sturgis Elementary. She put that same kindness and empathy to good use in her classrooms. She always found the good in every student and person. Her unparalleled positive attitude shined throughout everything she did.

She was a devoted wife, amazing mother, sweet sister, fun aunt, niece, Godmother, caring friend, and beautiful daughter. At 39 years old, she touched more lives than most of us will do with twice that time. It is a beautiful legacy and maybe, just maybe, it was her plan all along.

Katie is survived by husband, Seth Niederwerder; two sons, Ethan (13), and Zachary (8) Niederwerder; parents, Kathy (Eldon) Christians; parents-in-law, Roger (Marilu) Niederwerder; brothers, Jason (Amber), Corey (Heather), and Jeffery (Christina) Christians; sisters-in-law, Jayme (Clayton) Brock, and Carla (Jon) Olson; nieces and nephews, Mathias and Magdelene Hafner, Kaylee and Megan Christians, Katherine and Connor Christians, Matthew, Adam, Emma, and Lucy Mosby, Jesse Kapfenstein, Miranda and Dalton Mullen; and many other close relatives and friends.

Katie is preceded in death by her grandparents, Arlene (Elwood) Svor, and Betty (George) Christians.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis, SD. Burial will follow at Bear Butte cemetery.

A memorial has been established to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Click on the link to view service folder