64160_Kathryn Grace_Levorson
RICEVILLE | Kathryn Grace Levorson, 83, of Riceville, passed away at the Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, on Wednesday, March 12, surrounded by her family, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 17, 2014, at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, near Saratoga, with the Rev. Dan Christensen officiating. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Riceville.
Kathryn Taets was born on Jan. 26, 1931, at home on the family farm two miles south of Plymouth. Her family later moved to a farm seven miles south of Riceville. She loved the farm and growing up playing near the Wapsi from morning ‘til dusk. Kathryn graduated as valedictorian of her senior class in 1949. She loved reading and learning. She also enjoyed seeing her old classmates at reunions, and she was proud of her perfect attendance at those reunions, even attending her last one in 2013 shortly after being released from the hospital.
Kathryn first met Calvin Levorson in high school when he was working at her aunt and uncle’s farm. At first they weren’t very fond of each other, but when he returned from the service and began working in Riceville, their relationship blossomed. Kathryn worked at the Snack Shop in Osage and Calvin would often give her rides to and from work. The two of them were married on June 15, 1951, at the St. Ansgar Lutheran Church parsonage. To this union were born a daughter, Sandra, and a son, Keith.
Kathryn worked at the Riceville bank for 52 years before retiring. She was also city treasurer and school treasurer for the town of Riceville for many years.
She was quite a wife and a mother. At a time when it was more common for women to stay at home, Kathryn worked full time at the bank, but she also worked full time as wife and mother. She cooked, cleaned, ironed, darned, gardened, canned and cared for the children. As her children look back, they often wonder if she ever slept. She was always there to assist with their Halloween costumes, Valentines, special treats for classrooms, decorating cut-out Christmas cookies, even helping hunt for night crawlers … she did it all.
Kathryn grew up during the Depression years and during that time she learned to truly value the importance of caring for and using all of creation wisely. She was “green” before the term was created … composting, recycling, and reusing most everything. She once said, “What I could have made as a kid with a piece of red cellophane, and now we just throw it away.” She loved animals, all animals, but especially her “grand doggie,” Patches. She had a “green thumb” and could grow anything; her gardens were always beautiful. She was also quite a cook. She could cook anything, and it not only tasted good, but looked pretty. She made the best potato salad in the world and could make a family favorite, lefse. There was nothing better than the smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls that Mom made from scratch. She was a hard worker, independent, witty and a “soft touch” for her children, family, and anyone in need. She loved trips to the casino in her later years, always hoping to hit the jackpot, but actually her greatest pleasures were simple … time spent with family, digging in the dirt, a ride in the country, finding nice field stones to surround her daughter’s garden, a picnic at the lake, a game of dominoes or a good book.
She will be forever missed by her daughter, Sandra Levorson (Steve) Heer of Dubuque and her son, Keith (Linda) Levorson of Riceville; her grandchildren, Nick Heer of Des Moines, Kristy Levorson of Boston, Luke Heer of Dubuque and Kimberly (Cory) Nelson and great-grandson, Parker, of Cedar Falls; her step-grandchildren, Derek (Crystal) Reddel and family, Darren Reddel, Kelsey Reddel, all of Riceville, and Corey Reddel of Cedar Rapids; her sister, Geraldine Torney of Riceville; nieces and nephews, Connie (Dean) Eastman and family, Randy (Amy) Torney and family of Riceville, Dennis Falck of Cresco, and Dan Falck of Ridgeway.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin; her parents, Inga and Rene Taets; her sisters and brother-in-laws, Rosaline and Gerald Kinter, Maxine and Vernon Falck and Gary Torney.
The family would like to thank everyone at the Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center, Pastor Dan and Sue Christensen, Dr. Ross, Dr. Craig, Dr. Nasstrom, Hospice of Howard County and her neighbors, Darlene and Harold Seidel. Your gentle touch, your helping hand, your listening ear, your care and concern were so appreciated by Mom.
Memorials may be given to Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center, St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, Hospice or a charity of your choice.
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