Katherine Beall Mckibbin

Katherine Beall McKibbin, age 93, of Esofea, WI died early Wednesday morning, August 30, 2006, surrounded by her loving family at the Bethel Home in Viroqua where she was a resident since July 18th. . She was born March 26, 1913 in Cumberland, MD to Richard H. Beall and Rose Belle (Hinkle) Beall. She graduated from Alleghany High School in Cumberland in 1931. She had the distinction of being that high schools first girl cheerleader, having achieved that position by a student body and faculty vote. Following high school graduation, she went on to graduate from Marjory Webster College in Rose Creek Park, Washington, D.C., earning her way through school as a switchboard operator at the college. She worked for the Adams Interior Decorating Company, Washington, D.C.; and after her marriage graduated from Strayers Business College in Washington, D.C. She was married to Carlyle Rentz McKibbin on October 25, 1932. He preceded her in death on January 14, 1986. Katherine is survived by three sons Michael McKibbin, George (Dianne) McKibbin, and John P. McKibbin, all of Esofea, WI; two daughters Karen (Ron) Morris of Vandalia, MO; and Jane (Dave) Reschke of LaCrosse, WI; one daughter-in-law Diane McKibbin of Three Rivers, CA; two sisters Louise McWilliams and Barbara Williams of Adamstown, MD; two nieces Linda (Bill) Murphy of Clarksburg, MD; and Deb Wentling of Fairfield, PA; two nephews Jeffrey (Alice) Humbertson of Maryland and Kevin (Karen) McWilliams of Trenton, GA; one sister-in-law Marian Wood of Esofea; as well as 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Katherine traveled extensively with her family and career military husband. She studied flower arranging under the direction of a Japanese artist while living in Tokyo, Japan. She was an accomplished seamstress and pianist and had many other interests including bird watching, gardening and landscaping, reading, growing orchids, chair caning, rug weaving, quilting, traveling, and journaling. She was involved in scouting and 4-H as her children grew up. For several years after her husbands death, Katherine remained an involved member of an Alzheimers Support Group. She was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church of Esofea, and the National Audubon Society. She worked as a librarian while living in Whitewater, WI and was a volunteer at the Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse for ten years. She took special training to be a hospice volunteer. In addition to her husband, Mrs. McKibbin was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Rev. Wayne C. McKibbin in July, 2005; and infant brother, Franklin Beall; two sisters, Margaret Beall and Dorothy Humbertson. Memorials may be made to the Bethany Lutheran Church, Esofea, WI or the Vernon Memorial Hospice Program. The funeral, a celebration of her life, will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church on Saturday, September 2, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Vosseteig Funeral Home, Westby, WI. There will be no visitation. The family will greet friends following the service. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons: Todd McKibbin, Michael, Jason and Joshua Reschke; Richard, Ryan, and Rusty Morris; Adam and Mark McKibbin. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.