Kathryn Rebecca Hatten

Kathryn Rebecca Hatten, one of six children of Leah Pearl (Campbell) and Ray Arthur Hatfield, was born on September 30, 1915 on a farm near Hastings, Iowa. Kathryn attended the Hastings Public Schools, walking 1 1/2 miles for 12 years until her graduation on May 17, 1934. While attending school, Kathryn played on the girls' softball team that became the Mills County Champions in 1934. As a young girl on the farm, Kathryn worked in the hay fields with her family, driving a team of mules. She also worked with several farm families in the area helping with the children and housework.

Kathryn and Robert Carl Hatten were married on August 19, 1936 in Oregon, Missouri. They made their home on a farm near Henderson, Iowa before moving to a farm in the White Cloud Township near Malvern. While living in Iowa, their marriage was blessed with three children, Richard Ray, Danny Charles and David Robert. The family moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska in January of 1942. After their move to Nebraska City, Kathryn and Robert were blessed with two more children, Donald Joe and Mary Kathryn. When Robert was called to service in World War II, Kathryn continued to live in Nebraska City. Robert passed away in 1965. In Kathryn's later years while living in Nebraska City, she worked for the Nebraska City Public Schools and for Ocoma Foods. In 1971, Kathryn sold her home in Nebraska and moved back to Malvern, Iowa to be close to her mother and siblings. While living in Malvern, Kathryn worked for Henningsen Foods and then as a teacher's aide at the Chantry Elementary School until her retirement at the age of 71. In 1988, Kathryn sold her home and moved to Malvern Village.

Kathryn was a member of the Malvern United Methodist Church, Malvern Senior Center, the Malvern Red Hat Society, the 39er's Club, Heritage Club, and had served on the Malvern Village Board for many years. She enjoyed raising a large garden and canning many of her garden vegetables. Among her other enjoyments were sewing, making quilts for her children and grandchildren, embroidering dish towels, playing cards, reading and listening to music. Kathryn's family loved and enjoyed her peanut butter cookies, oatmeal cookies and sugar cookies as well as her wonderful chicken with homemade noodles. Kathryn especially loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Due to declining health, Kathryn moved on April 30, 2012, to Hillside Village in De Soto, Kansas to live near her daughter Mary. She passed away on July 4, 2012 at Hillside Village at the age of 96 years, 9 months and 4 days. Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Leah "Pearl" Hatfield; husband Robert Hatten, sons, Donald Hatten and Richard Hatten; great grandson Andrew; sisters, Leah "Leota" Sutton and husband Delbert, and Erma Walston and husband Melvin; brothers, Dallas "Art" Hatfield and wife Thelma, Everett Hatfield, and Thomas "Harold" Hatfield; brother-in-law Clyde Hatten and wife Neva; and sister-in-law Esther Klingsick and husband Virgil.

Kathryn is survived by her sons, Danny Hatten of Amarillo, TX, and David Hatten and wife Judy of Lincoln, NE; daughter Mary Sayers and husband Scott of De Soto, KS, daughter-in-law Dee Hatten of Lincoln; 18 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Hatfield of Malvern, Frances Hatfield of Milford, IA, and Margaret Brawner and husband Jack of Nebraska City; and many other relatives and friends.

A memorial fund has been established.

Interment in Malvern Cemetery.