Kathy Wahl

Kathy Wahl, 69, of Aberdeen died August 24, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls after a long battle with numerous health issues surrounded by her husband and three daughters.

Kathy Kay Wahl, daughter of Fred and Viola (Vetch) Hettich was born July 17, 1953, in Aberdeen SD. After attending Lincoln Elementary and Monroe Middle, she graduated from Aberdeen Central High as part of the class of 1971.

She was united in marriage to Lanny Wahl November 18, 1972, at Aberdeen Wesleyan Church. They made their home at her beloved Richmond Lake where she lived until the time of her death. Together they raised three daughters.

Kathy has had many different careers during her lifetime including Control Data, Shopko, and Big West Manufacturing. She owned her own sewing company, KW Manufacturing for a time. Which became a family effort to sew, inspect and ship water bottle cooler covers. She discovered she had a gift as well as a love for bill collecting while working for Aman Collections until her retirement in 1999.

Her passion though was her commitment to the Richmond Lake Sanitary Sewer District. She has been an integral part of the original team since 1987. Where together they envisioned, designed and built a sewer system with the goal of cleaning up the lake to make it safe for recreation. During her 35-year tenure she acted as an original board member, president and trustee as well has held the office in her home and acted as clerk until the time of her death. As a part of the original board, Kathy’s hard work and vision made Richmond Lake what it is today.

Kathy cherished time with her family, gardening, baking, cooking, sewing, crocheting and many more crafty pursuits. You could not leave her home after a visit without an armful of baked goods. She loved to spread her garden bounty to anyone she met. Especially those who cared for her the most.

Kathy’s family would like to thank all those Doctors, Nurses, CareFlight staff, EMT’s/Paramedics and medical professionals who have cared for her so well these past 18 years. With special thanks to the Avera St. Luke’s Kidney Dialysis staff. She truly viewed them as an extension of her family.

Grateful and fortunate for having shared Kathy’s life are her devoted husband of 50 years, Lanny; three loving daughters, Amy (Jamie) Johnson of Aberdeen, SD; Carrie (Jamie) Weisenburger of Aberdeen, SD; and Becky (Ryan) Stanoch of Cottage Grove, MN; her six grandchildren, Olivia Johnson, Axton Johnson, Michael Weisenburger, Andrew Weisenburger, Joshua Stanoch and Emelia Stanoch; brother Calvin (Aleta) Hettich and sister-in-law Lois Hettich.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Allen and Terry “Chubbs” Hettich