Cloudy, 29° F
(Oct. 14, 1920 - July 11, 2012)
Katherine Elizabeth Heasler Christiansen died Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at the Powell Valley Care Center. She was 91.
Katherine was born Oct. 14, 1920 at the Whitlock Hospital in Powell to Margaret Louise (England) and John William Heasler.
As a young girl, she was involved with 4-H, Girl Scouts of America, Junior American Legion Auxiliary and she was a charter member of Jobs Daughters.
She attended school in Powell, graduating from Powell High School. She went on to attend the LaSalle School of Commerce, North Platte Business College and Northwest College.
Her father worked in the oil fields, and the family lived in Powell through 1939. Katherine also lived in the Wyoming communities of Big Muddy, Glenrock, Midwest and Sheridan, and Florence, Colo., Panhandle, Texas, Benington, Kan., Venice, Calif., Kearney, Neb., and North Platte, Neb.
On Nov. 20, 1939, Katherine married Woodrow Clay Christiansen.
Katherine served with the American Legion Auxiliary in Powell and Nebraska, and worked with Girls State for 33 years. She also served with the Royal Neighbors of America, Business and Professional Women, Park County Historical Society, Wyoming State Historical Society, Catholic Daughters of America and as a board member at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church.
Katherine was active with youth groups, and helped start the Newman Club on the Northwest College campus.
She also served as the president’s secretary at Northwest College, and then as the college’s housing director. She served one term on the Northwest College Board of Trustees, and started the Heasler Nursing Scholarship through the Northwest College Foundation.
Katherine also served on the Powell Bicentennial Commission, the Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train, Concerned Citizens Association, Homesteaders Museum Association and City of Powell Planning and Zoning Commission.
She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for the Park County draft board, R.N.A. Insurance, Northwest College and as a clerk for the Park County Museum Board and Crown Hill Cemetery. She also worked for various businesses in Nebraska.
During her years in business and community service, Katherine received numerous awards.
Katherine was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Clay Christiansen; father John William Heasler; birth mother Margaret L. Heasler; aunt and mother Elizabeth “Liz” Heasler; brother Richard William Heasler; sister-in-law Gladys Heasler; sister Mary Lois Jacobson; and daughter-in-law Connie Smith.
She is survived by her son, Michael John Christiansen; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday with Mass at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Powell. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the Heasler Nursing Scholarship Fund at the Northwest College Foundation.
Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneral.net or P.O. Box 807, Powell, WY 82435.
