Kathleen Ann Winter was born on July 16, 1935, to Henry T. and Katie (Noeske) Bruns at the home of her grandparents in Noltimier Township northeast of Valley City, ND. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Salem United Methodist Church, rural Valley City. She was educated at Noltimier Consolidated School where she participated in sports and music. She was also a 4-H member. Kay graduated high school in 1953, then attended VCSU where she earned a Standard Degree, sang in the concert choir and the EBC Hit Parade. She studied voice under Jack Donovan while in college.
Kay was united in marriage to Richard E. Winter on March 29, 1956. She taught school in Luverne, ND, and at Ashtabula school north of Valley City. She was a soloist at many church events, community events, and weddings, including singing “The Lord’s Prayer” at her own wedding. She and her sisters-in-law Carol and Delores formed the “Winter Trio” – singing locally and statewide.
Kay was a member of Getchell Homemakers for many years, and also a 4-H leader for a number of years. She taught her daughters to sew and to play the piano and encouraged all of her children to play in the school band.
Kay accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in April of 1963 and from then on, her desire was to be a good witness for Christ. She taught Sunday School and sang in the choir at Salem Church, served on the VCSU V-500 Board, and the Sheyenne Care Center Board of Directors. Her family attended Trinity Lutheran Church where she was active in Circle, Choir, and Bible Study. In later years, Our Saviors Lutheran Church became her church home.
Summers on the farm brought hard work, gardening, lawn mowing, and meals in the field for family and hired workers. She did a lot of sewing – a wedding dress for her daughter, many bridesmaids dresses, a baptismal dress for her granddaughter Anna, and a lot of sewing for her daughters and herself. She was an avid reader and loved gospel music.
Kay was a pillar of strength and support for her husband, children, and loved ones. With many things pulling her in so many directions, she always managed to be there for them. There was never any doubt that her faith and her family were her main priorities in life.
Kay was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Dick, her parents, infant great-granddaughter Britton Irene Marie Weber, and her brother Henry F. (Hank) Bruns by just 13 hours.
Kay is survived by her four children: R. Steven (Robin) Winter of Oriska, Dianne (Brad) Graff of Valley City, Debra (Mike) Kimbell of Spearfish, SD, and Mark (Andrea) Winter of Valley City; her beloved grandchildren: Leah (Trent) Rogers of Warsaw, MO, Kylie (Devin) Weber of Oriska, Logan Becker of Jamestown, Brenna (Collin) Schroeder of Valley City, Colton Winter of Oriska, Ellie Winter and Trevor Winter of Valley City, and Anna Kimbell and Jesse Kimbell of Spearfish, SD; great grandchildren: Beau and Bridger Weber and Livia Kay, Trinity, and Teagan Rogers. Also surviving are her sister Shirley (Ted) Mahaffey, sisters-in-law Sandy Bruns, Helen Noeske, and Carol Winter Bjorge, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Friday, June 18 with a prayer service at 6:00 pm at Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. The funeral service will be 10:00 am, Saturday, June 19 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Valley City with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at Memory Gardens, Valley City. The live stream service will be viewable at https://vimeo.com/563429875
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.oliver-nathanchapel.com