Kathleen Ella (Weideman) Johnston,69, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed December 1st, 2024, in Gloucester, Virginia after several long illnesses.
Kathleen was born March 16th, 1955, in Belle Fourche, SD, attending school in Belle Fourche and graduating in 1973 from BFHS.
Kathleen would welcome Elizabeth April 6, 1974. After high school Kathleen worked as a nurse’s aide for Don Pratt nursing home. She had a coworker named Myrtle Johnston. Myrtle would introduce Kathleen to her son Ed, who was newly home from the Marine Corps. It was not long before Ed proposed to Kathleen, wanting to establish their family. Kathleen and Ed were married June 22, 1979. Ed would become the father to Elizabeth she never had. Shortly after marrying Kathleen, Ed moved the family to Gillette Wyoming. Their family then welcomed a son, Jacob, in July of 1981. Kathleen and Ed would live in Gillette for 37 years. After Ed’s retirement from coal mining in 2016, they would move to Gloucester, VA to live with their son and daughter-in-law Heather, where they would remain until Kathleen’s passing.
Kathy, as she was so affectionately known, was a devoted wife and mother. Her greatest joy and concern were for her family. With each passing year she would watch her family grow to include 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, as well as numerous extended family and friends. Kathy was filled with pride over both of her children’s accomplishments and the life she built with Ed.
She would enjoy crafting, sewing, crocheting, basically anything to manifest beautiful art creations. Her sister lovingly recalls Kathy making her wedding, bridesmaids, and flower girl dresses, as well as her own. Kathy was involved with Campbell County Charity Christmas Festivities for many years. Every year she would donate a decorated tree, wreath, and a quilt she sewed. A couple years she won first prize for her tree and wreath, every year a different theme.
She would follow her son Jacob to wrestling meets and football games and could be heard ringing the cowbell throughout. She would always have a big crockpot full of food to make sure all the wrestlers were fed.
Kathy loved the 4th of July and loved to spend time in Belle Fourche SD during the 4th with her sister and beloved friend Kay. She expressed how that time continued to make her feel close to her parents after they had passed.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her beloved parents Adolph and Mildred Weideman and her in-laws Myrtle and Albert LeRoy Johnston. She is survived by her devoted husband Ed, sister Linda (Joe) Kapinus Gillette, WY, brother Doug (Mary) Karlson Fontana, CA, children Elizabeth Johnston (Marty Windell) Newcastle, WY, Jacob (Heather) Johnston of Gloucester, VA and their children Hailee and Eddie, grandson Brett Brumley Spearfish, SD, granddaughter Bailey Brumley (Diago Paul) and their daughter Aurora Gillette, WY, great-grandson Leeroy Smith Gillette, WY.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 12th, 2024, 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Black Hills Funeral Home, Sturgis, SD. A Rosery will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, December 13, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with Funeral Mass at 11:00. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery. Celebration of Life will be at the VFW in Sturgis, SD 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers the family would like to ask that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation (GARF) in Gillette, WY.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.