August 20, 1940 - March 8, 2024
Kathryn Hays was born August 20, 1940 at Martin, S.D., the fourth daughter of Earl and Viola Hays, who lived on a farm approximately 8 miles west and 3 south of Martin. Her older sisters were Mary, Gladys and Helen. Since Rural Electrification had not come to the area yet she remembers coal stove for heat, kerosene lamps for evening light, gardening, canning foods for storage, bringing in water from a windmill. When it was time for her to begin the first grade the nearby country school closed (Gamble) so her mother, she and her sister, Helen, moved to Martin. She later wrote “I really loved school after I learned to read. I’d check out a book every day. I was a real book worm.”
During her years in high school at BCHS she worked after school at the Booster newspaper office doing bookkeeping, running presses, etc. The newspaper at that time was owned by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Wendell Long. She was active in school plays also. Graduating in 1958, she was valedictorian of her class.
She enrolled at Chadron, Nebr. Teachers College that fall. After 1 1/2 years there she enlisted in the Air Force and was able to continue her education with her ambition to become a computer programmer/systems analyst.
Her degrees include: SD School of Mines, Rapid City; bachelor of science, mathematics 1964; Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, master of applied science, computer science in 1971.
At Southern Methodist she met her future husband, David Lawrence, and they were married there in 1970.
Some of the places she was stationed included: Lackland and Shepard in Texas; Lowry in Colorado; Arizona State U, Arizona; Randolph in Texas; Southern Methodist Univ. Texas; Scott, Illinois; Pentagon, Washington, DC; Air Force Reserves, in Washington DC.; Camp Smith, Hawaii, and Tinker, Oklahoma. She retired in 1988 and Dave retired in 1990.
Following retirement the couple lived mostly in Florida in golf course communities—took cruises—Australia several times, through the Panama Canal, Alaska, Europe, enjoying being on the ocean. They came to the School of Mines class reunions regularly for many years, visited family in South Dakota (mostly in the summer months).
Her husband passed away in 2021. Since that time she has resided in Sioux Falls in the memory care unit at Trail Ridge Retirement Home. She passed away March 8, 2024.
Survivors are: her oldest sister, Mary Hays Long of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law Patricia Chambers of Florida, brother-inlaw Michael Lawrence of West Virginia and their spouses; Mary’s son and daughters, and numerous other nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
At a later date Kathryn’s cremated remains will be placed at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, beside her late husband.
Kathryn claimed South Dakota as her “home state” and was a Life Member of American Legion Post 240 in Martin.
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“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Dr. Seuss
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