Katherine Yergens, 94
Katherine Yergens, 94, a longtime resident of Newport, Wash., died Dec. 2, 2004.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at the Sherman Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash.
Kaye was born on June 30, 1910, in Minot, N.D., the daughter of Bernhardt and Jenny Morstad. In 1912, her family relocated to Saskatchewan, Canada, where she later met and married her husband, Frank Yergens in 1930. Their first two children, Val and Doug, were born and raised while they lived there until 1939, when the family moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
In 1943, Kaye and Frank chose to settle in Spirit Lake, Idaho. Kaye studied to become a professional hair dresser, opening her own styling salon in Spirit Lake. She closed the salon when she and Frank moved north of Newport to start a dairy farm in 1952. A year later, Kaye's son, Steve, was born. In addition to farming, Kaye also raised a big garden, turkeys, chickens and calves and worked for the Newport School District as an assistant cook.
They farmed until they retired in 1972, when they moved onto acreage near the Pend Oreille River. Kaye, as she liked to be called, was an avid gardener, artist, chef of traditional Norwegian food and a bird watcher.
One of her favorite activities was watching wildlife along the riverfront through the picture window of her home. She loved to tend to her rose garden, walk her dog and drive her Buick. Kaye was active well into her 80s. She was a member of the Davis Lake Grange and the Eagles, where she enjoyed the camaraderie and bingo games.
Katherine is preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in 1984; an infant son, Robert; and a brother and a sister. She is survived by her sister, Gladys Olson of Saskatchewan, Canada; her daughter, Valerie Smith of Sandpoint; sons, Douglas (June) Yergens of Blanchard, Idaho, and Steven (Charlotte) Yergens of Newport, Wash; six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Priest River Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 1626, Priest River, ID 83856.
Sherman Knapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.