Kathy Farrell

May 31, 1942 — July 8, 2019

Kathy Farrell, age 77, formerly of Barnesville, died peacefully surrounded by her family at Sanford Hospice Foundation Cottage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Monday, July 8, 2019.

Visitation and Funeral services will be Saturday, July 13, 2019. Visitation will begin at 12 noon with the funeral service at 1:00 PM in Dobmeier Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 202 Front St N, Barnesville, MN. Burial will be at 3:00 PM at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Barnesville.

Kathleen Gail Hutter was born on May 31, 1942 to Roy Michael and Violet (Packard) Hutter in Galesburg, Illinois. She spent the first few years of her life in Rapid City, SD before her family settled in Fargo ND. Kathy graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1961 and attended North Dakota State University where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. While attending NDSU she met her future husband, Mike, who lived at the fraternity house across the street from the Kappa Delta house.

Kathy married Michael J. Farrell on August 10, 1963 at Blessed Sacrament Church in West Fargo. After Mike’s discharge from the United States Army, Mike and Kathy farmed south of West Fargo. In 1970, Mike and Kathy moved to Barnesville when they bought their farm from Ed and Katie Dow, who had lived on the farm for over 40 years, and with whom they remained lifelong friends. Mike and Kathy lived on the farm until Mike’s death in 2012 and Kathy continued to live there until moving to Sioux Falls in 2015 to be closer to family.

In addition to raising four kids and managing the household, Kathy worked a variety of jobs in Barnesville, including working at Lee’s Super Value and selling Tupperware and Avon products. She also supported Mike’s farming and real estate activities.

Kathy was a loving and supportive wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a leader for her daughters’ scout groups. She maintained a large garden to keep her family fed with vegetables year-round. Kathy was a voracious reader, with interests spanning history, Native American culture, and eastern philosophies. She enjoyed daily crossword puzzles. She loved music and attended many concerts from musicians ranging from Tina Turner to Hank Williams Jr. She was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed watching football. Kathy was also a dog lover, her most recent pets being Charlie and Gizmo.

Kathy is survived by her four children: Bob (Penny) Farrell, Brown Deer, WI; Deb Snyder, Sioux Falls, SD; Linda Damhof, Willmar, MN; Dan (Carla) Farrell, Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters: Joan Cornforth, Reno, NV and Susan Packard, Las Vegas, NV; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

Kathy was preceded in death by her husband Mike and by her parents.