Kathleen "Katty" Sykora

Kathleen Faye Sykora, 78, Beardsley, MN, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, December 5, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Beardsley with Father David Breu officiating. Music will be provided by organist Carmen Hills and song leaders Sue Sykora, Barb Sykora, Carma Sykora, Avah Sykora, and Kelsey Holtz.

Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters, Shanna Nelson, Rebecca Erickson, Erin Klemm, Leah Hendricks, Kati Nelson, Sara McKinley, Amanda Sykora, Karley Sykora, Sara Johnson, Michaela Johnson, and all of her great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Ben Johnson, Brian Johnson, Brandon Sykora, Brady Sykora, Cameron Sykora, Cole Sykora, Michael Erickson, Paul Nelson, Kelly Klemm, Derek Hendricks, Jake Nelson and Kyle McKinley.

Visitation will be Sunday from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Visitation will continue Monday one hour prior to the service.

Katty Sykora was born to Ora and Hazel (Doschadis) Hills on August, 27,1938, in Toqua Township and was the 9 ^th child out of 16 siblings.

Katty attended school in Beardsley, MN, and on October 12, 1957, Katty married the love of her life Dale Sykora. Katty and Dale were blessed with four children ~ her daughter Glenda and sons Douglas, Donny and Dennis.

For 33 years Katty and Dale lived on the farm and raised their four children. Katty worked side by side with Dale on the farm helping with milking and field work. In 1981 Katty and Dale started Sykora Harvesting, traveling many miles down south and up north. Katty made many delicious meals for Dale and the combine crew and was always considered as a second mother to the crew members.

In 1990 Katty and Dale moved to Beardsley and in the fall of 1993 they moved into their new home in Beardsley. Katty happily decided to retire as the harvesting chef in 2002. Over the years Katty spent time enjoying her home doing flower gardening, taking care of her yard, and enjoying visits with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all enjoyed her delicious meals, cookies and cupcakes. She loved following her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they participated in school activities.

For many years Katty was an avid and excellent bowler where she bowled on the mixed doubles league with Dale and on the women's Wednesday afternoon bowling league. Katty enjoyed spending time with her friends and they sometimes snuck off to the casino to win the big bucks. Katty was also an avid Vikings fan and she let them know if they weren't playing quite right.

Katty is survived by her loving husband Dale of 59 years, her daughter, Glenda (Don) Johnson; sons, Douglas (Sherrie) Sykora, Donny (Sue) Sykora and Dennis (Jennifer) Sykora; six grandsons; six granddaughters; 25 great-grandchildren; sisters, Audrey Opitz, Arlene (William) Deutsch, Mary (William) Ewert, Joyce Bogenreif, Virginia (Jim) Hennessy, Patricia (John) Stoick, Linda Sibson, Carol (Dean) Palmer, and Bonnie (Jerry) Hendricks; brother, Larry Hills; brothers-in-law, Gene Sykora, Francis Sykora, and Robert (Barb) Sykora; sisters-in-law, Karen Reed and Jan (Everett) Sykora; and aunts, Lois Eastman and Connie Diekmann.

Katty is preceded in death by her parents, Ora and Hazel Hills; siblings, Donald (Sharkey) Hills, Dorothy O'Leary, Robert (Duck) Hills, John Hills, and Kenneth Hills; her in-laws, Henry & Theresa Sykora; and brother-in-law, Everett Sykora.