Katherine B. Gebes, better known as Kate to her family and friends was born April 23, 1914 on a farm near Billsburg, SD, one of ten children born to Frank and Bertha (Dirndorfer) Gebes.

She grew up there and attended Hart Rural School. As a young lady she worked for several families as housekeeper and as a nanny.

Kate was united in marriage to Gordon Stephenson on January 5, 1934 at Milesville, SD. To this union were born eight children.

They lived in the Plum Creek area until 1943 when Gordon was drafted into the Army and Katherine went to Michigan and worked as a welder in the defense plant. Later she returned to South Dakota and moved to Midland where she worked as a cook at the Stroppel Hotel.

Gordon returned from the Army in 1946 and the family moved to Milesville where they ran a store, filling station and later purchased the Milesville General Store and Repair Shop. In 1954 Katherine moved into Philip with her family and worked at the Midway Café. She later purchased the Park Inn Café from Pinky and Gertrude Anderson. She operated the café for several years and then upon selling it went to work for Deis Food Center and also worked in the kitchen at the Philip Health Services.

In addition, she helped Kathy Baker operate the Senechal Hotel Café for about two years. Kate continued to work in the Philip Health Services kitchen and later moved to the laundry department. She continued full time in the laundry department until about 10 years ago when she went part time working until January 2003.

Kate was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the evening guild. She was a member of the Bad River Senior Citizens and also a card circle. She volunteered at the Philip Nursing Home for bingo, bowling and playing cards with the residents. She loved playing cards, gardening and helping at the farm as well as helping other people.

Grateful for having shared her life are two sons, Boyd Stephenson of Grandview, Missouri, and Gary Stephenson of Rapid City and Philip; four daughters, Joan Patton and her husband, Leo of Milesville, Kay Ainslie and her husband, George of Philip, Arlene Ingersoll and her husband, Bob of Seattle, Washington, and Sue Koepp and her husband, Darwin of Victoria, Texas; eighteen grandchildren, Alan and Natalie Stephenson, Barbara Howe and husband, Denny, Sharon Kauffman and husband, George, Carol Kroetch and husband Ralph Jr., Linda Stangle and husband Jim, Kathy Knight and husband Bob, Janet Penland and husband Terry, Susan Jones and husband Dave, Bill Patton and wife Michele, Diane Walker and husband Gary, Cheryl Behrend, Karla Ainslie, Marlene Scheessele and husband Tom, Angela Koepp, Andrea Koepp, Diane Coble, Carrie Miceli and husband Pat; thirty great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren, one brother, George Gebes and his wife Fran of Batavia, Illinois; two sisters, Mary Schaefers of Miller, South Dakota and Esther Simmons of Aurora, Illinois; a sister-in-law Jeannette Gebes of Batavia, Illinois; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Kate was preceded in death by Gordon Stephenson in 1970; two sons in infancy; two grandsons, Richard Leo Patton in infancy and Jerry Ainslie in 1993; her parents; four brothers, Joe, Henry, Jerry Gebes and one brother in infancy; two sisters, Pat Baker and Anna Huth.

A vigil service was held 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 2, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

Mass of Christian Burial was held 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 3, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Father Ron Garry as celebrant.

Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family, which will be used for the Sacred Heart Grotto Renovation and for a landscaping project at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
10:30 a.m. Friday, October 3, 2003
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Ron Garry

MUSIC
Jo Anne Stilwell – Organist
Maureen Palecek – Vocalist
"On Eagles’ Wings"
"Peace Is Flowing Like A River"
"Amazing Grace"

LECTOR
Linda Stangle

ALTAR SERVERS
Chad Kroetch – Seth Knight

USHERS
Mike Gebes – Chuck Allen

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota