Kathryn M. Hiatt, 100 of Ashland, NE passed away Saturday, June 15, 2024 in Lincoln, NE.

I was born Kathryn Marie Van Matre, on July 14, 1923 on a farm in Tripp County, SD to Clara Louise (Townley) Van Matre and Charles Noble Van Matre.  I was the fifth daughter in a family of six girls: Ethel Louise, Irene Edna, Dorothy Margaret, Helen Ruth, myself, and Marian Elaine.

My father died at an early age of 39, this made it impossible to for my mother to remain away from Nebraska.  My grandfather Van Matre suggested we moved back to Nebraska where we had relatives on both sides.  We moved to Nebraska and our relatives were true to their word and helped raise us.  Some of the girls were in homes with relatives for several years.  I was not, I always was with my mother.  Then came an opportunity for my mother to be chief operator of the telephone company.  This was a welcome change.  Our family was once again all together under one roof.

I attended a country school (known as Blue Mound) for a couple of years and then entered the Rising City Public School and graduated in 1941.  The next year in January I enrolled in the National Business Institute in Lincoln to study accounting.  I worked at several different places but went to Smith Dorsey and stayed there until after I married and was expecting Terry.

During the years after business school and working I was busy writing letters to Leland Hiatt, my high school sweetheart.  In 1943 Leland was drafted into military service and returned home in April 1946.  We became engaged and married on June 2, 1946.  We had been blessed with four children, Terry, Ivalee, Deni, and Amy.

When Ivalee was four years old, we moved from Lincoln to Ashland, NE.  I was a stay-at-home mom from the time Terry was born until Amy started school.   I went to work a couple of days a week for Victor & Mary Ellen Miller in the insurance office.  Later I worked mostly full time and stayed there for 13 years.  I then took a year off but became restless and went to work for an insurance agency in Lincoln.  During this time, I studied and took a course through Southeast Community College and passed many national exams for an Accredited Insurance Advisor.  I worked until I was 62 years old and then retired.

When I was a stay-at-home mom, I was active in Boy & Girl Scout leaderships, band parents, and all sport activities our children were involved in.  Leland and I sponsored the Methodist youth group for several years.  I was also a member of P.E.O. in Ashland and Lincoln and served in most of the offices, including president.  I also belonged to United Methodist Women and in later years we helped with marriage encounter groups and cancer support groups.

Somewhere along the line I took knitting lessons and knitting became a huge part of my life.  I have knitted for charities and for family.

I leave behind my son, Terry (Beverly) Hiatt; my three daughters, Ivalee (Dennis) Dowd, Deni (Douglas) Hill and Amy (Brock) Angelos; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; my sisters, Helen Snyder and Marian (John) Hendrick; my brother-in-law, Orin “Bud” Hiatt; many nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances.

I was preceded in death by my parents; my husband, Leland; sisters, Ethel, Irene and Dorothy