Kathryn Joanne Gutting
October 9, 1958 – January 3, 2023
Beldenville lost another matriarch. Our sweet and spicy – like a chilled shot of Fireball whiskey – Chatty Kathy passed away at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 3, 2023 at the age of 64 during her favorite daytime program, The Price is Right. She was at peace having witnessed the Packers beat the Vikings one last time, but a bit disappointed that she didn’t make it until March which she always proclaimed as “the death month.” She always joked around about what her obituary would say, so in true Kathy spirit it will be a fun one.
Missing her terribly are her granddaughter Marion, daughter and son-in-law Sara and Jerad Erlandson, and husband and high school sweetheart of 44 years, David, who drove her nuts – BAH – but they loved each other through the good and the bad, till death did they part. Also mourning Kathy are her sister and brother-in-law Shelley and Steve Deiss, sister Jan Place, sisters- and brothers-in-law Jackie and Wayne Schulte, Pat Gutting, Julie Reilly, Glen and Joleen Gutting, Dorothy and Kurt Larson, Ron and Jeanette Gutting, Jane Gutting and Terry Martin, Judy Ecklund, all her nieces and nephews who lost their inappropriate yet crazy fun aunt, plus countless friends whom she’d also consider family. Kathy is reunited in heaven by many loved ones including her parents Gerald and Darlene Huppert, in-laws Carl and Marion Gutting, brother Mike Huppert, brother-in-law Gerald Ecklund, grandparents, and numerous uncles, aunts, and good friends.
Kathy loved Beldenville and was so proud to be raised here and watch her family grow to love this little town just as much as she has. It won’t be the same without her. She was a barfly since birth and loved patronizing The Hitching Post, The Big Horn, and eventually a bar of her own, Clyde’s Corner. Nothing made her prouder than to be behind the bar chatting and serving her customers, but unfortunately it was short lived due to being hit hard with rheumatoid arthritis which forced her into disability and early retirement. Having such a strong desire to work and being devastated that she could no longer do so, she still found plenty of joy on the other side of the bar, including being brutally honest about the operations and whether the beer was cold enough. When her short little 5’3” self entered a room, you knew it. She was boldly loud and funny, and you could hear her contagious laugh echo all through Beldenville. She never ran out of things to say and always had a story to tell.
She loved the Green Bay Packers and football, even though watching a game with her was nearly impossible because of the nonstop chatter, cooking and feeding people with her bottomless satchel of snacks, laughing loudly and telling highly inappropriate jokes, but most of all spending time with family and friends, and being a wife, mom, and most recently a grandmother. Garage sale season and treasure hunting were her favorite and she managed to find the most ridiculous things at unfathomable prices. Every time Marion would go to grandma and grandpa’s for a visit she would be greeted by a “new” toy. She just loved seeing the joy and excitement on her face and would proudly boast how little she paid. She lived our summer days and nights to the fullest cruising around and giving free rides on her Packers golf cart that was just as loud as she was, which believe me, was also a bargain. We can now freely donate our crap to Goodwill without risk of her buying it back for us.
Life wasn’t the easiest for Kathy as she faced many hardships and battles, but these experiences filled her heart with honesty, compassion, courage, love, and a true understanding of what others needed most. She spread joy and kindness to all of us in the form of hugs, loud laughs, and treats. She gave us all that she had to offer.
No amount of time with Kathy would’ve been enough for us. We sure love her and will miss her.
Kathy wanted one final party – a celebration of her life – which will be held on Saturday, January 7 at Clyde’s Corner Bar in Beldenville beginning at 2:00 pm. A private Mass of Christian burial at St. Francis Catholic Church will be held this spring.
Services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth, www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com, 715-273-4421