Catherine Newby

Liturgy of the Word service for Kay (Catherine) Newby, 90, of Dickinson, ND will be held at 10:00 a. m. , Friday, July 31, 2015 at Stevenson Funeral Home with Deacon Bob Stockert celebrating. Burial will follow at 3:00 p. m. CDT in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Visitation for Catherine will be from 1:00 p. m. to 5:00 p. m. , Thursday, July 30, 2015 at Stevenson Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service. Kay passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson. Kay was the 7th of 10 children born to Jacob and Regina (Matz) Wilhelm in Regent, ND on June 14, 1925. She was the last of her siblings (Jack, Fran, Harry, Jan, Roze, Marie, Paula, Eleanor and George) to pass away. Kay grew up on a farm outside of Regent. Growing up on the farm usually included lots of outside work, but she somehow managed to get kitchen duty most of the time which was the start of her cooking career. She frequently told the story that she burned their first house down while holding a comb over a candle when she was a little girl. Kay graduated from Regent High School. Since her parents both passed away by the time she was 17, Jan (her sister) and Kay lived with relatives in Eugene, Oregon until Jan graduated from high school. At that time, Kay worked at a jewelry store. Kay married Cliff Newby, her high school sweetheart and the love of her life in 1945 when he returned home from WWII. Both Kay and Cliff waited three long years for each other while he was away in the Pacific Theater. Together, they returned to Regent to build their life. They were blessed with three children, Craig, Pamm and Janel. Cliff owned the Regent Lumber Company and Newby’s Builder’s Supply in Mott and Regent most of the time, while raising a large number of sheep. Kay loved being a housewife and mom. She was well known for her mouthwatering pies, donuts, borscht and fried chicken. Playing bridge was one of Kay’s favorite pastimes and she continued to play a mean game until she passed away. She also loved to bowl and was on a league in Mott for many years. Kay loved to be busy and kept up her coffee routine with her friends for more than 60 years. She was also known to spend a little time in the casinos. She loved gambling and could stay up all night when she was in Vegas with her sisters. We hope that when you step into a casino, you will think of her. Most important though was Kay’s love of family. She did everything she could to give her children everything she didn’t have herself. She drove Pamm and Janel to Dickinson every other week to take piano lessons and she loved watching Craig play basketball. She loved to go to band and choir concerts and school plays. Kay had a special bond with her sisters Jan and Fran in California. Kay and Cliff spent many vacations with them and after Cliff passed away, Kay continued to spend at least a month with them every year. Cliff passed away at a young age and Kay always commented on how lucky she was to have had such a special person in her life. She missed him every day of her life. Kay moved in to Hawk’s Point assisted living facility in 2009. She continued to play bridge and bingo with her friends, went to coffee at McDonalds almost every day and enjoyed visits from her children and grandchildren. Something that people always noticed about Kay was how well dressed she was. No matter where she was going, she looked like million dollars. She was very proud of her “Best Dressed Award” at Hawk’s Point. Kay had an infectious laugh and beautiful green eyes. In December 2014, Kay moved to St. Benedict’s Nursing Home. Kay will be dearly missed by her children, Craig (Patti) Newby of Dickinson, Janel Finch of Dickinson and Pamm (Dave) Monier of Longmont, Colorado. Her grandchildren, Karissa and Cliff Newby and Jenn (Newby) Page, Matt and Christine Finch and Keaton and Mckensey Monier have many good memories and funny stories to cherish. Her great-grandson Kaden Finch also survives her. Life will never be the same without her.


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Burial Date: July 31, 2015
Church Stevenson Funeral Home

Liturgy of the Word: Friday: Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, ND