Kathryn Shald, 86

Kathryn Shald, 86 was born April 8, 1935,in Atkinson, NE to Fred and Lizzy (Krumm) Braun. Many knew her as Tootie, a nickname given to her by her father. She was raised in Atkinson during the depression, where she worked throughout high school at area diners like The Rocket and at the Crystal Ballroom Skating Rink.

Tootie lived and worked in Atkinson after high school while her beloved Don was in college and the military. She soon moved to Omaha, NE, where she worked for Mutual of Omaha. During this time, she married Don Shald on February 27, 1954 in Stuart, NE.

The couple eventually moved to Stuart and started a family that grew to four children: David, Daniel, Deborah and Douglas. Tootie and Don were active in farming, ranching and cattle buying throughout Nebraska and across the country. You could often find her weighing cattle, figuring commissions and arranging health and brand inspections at the Shald Livestock scales on Hwy. 20 east of Stuart. She was active in Saint Boniface Catholic Church and was a member of several groups and organizations like the Christian Mothers’ Association.

In earlier retirement years, she enjoyed traveling with Don to visit family and enjoy life in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida and Pennsylvania. Tootie and Don were devoted square dancers for many years. Tootie loved music. She loved to dance and skate and sing, and she was always ready to go to the casino and spent many days at horse races around the country.

Tootie loved crossword puzzles and was a terrific craftswoman! She spent countless hours creating masterpieces surrounded by dozens of family photos in a room she called her she shack or the hen’s pen. She made quilts, doilies, afghans and slippers and who could forget her everpopular dish rags? These crocheted reusable cotton rags were like her calling card; she gave them to everyone she met. If you knew her, she probably gave one to you.

Kathryn died on January 2, 2022 in Ukiah, CA.

Kathryn is survived by children Dave (Lynda) of Pensacola, FL, Dan (Kim) of Granby, CO, Deb of Loveland, CO, and Doug (Julie) of Ukiah, CA; brother, Butch (Mickey) Braun of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law, Shirley Chaney and family of Batesville, AR; 12 grandchildren and now 15 greatgrandchildren with the recent arrival of Adalynn in Pensacola, FL.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings Dick Braun, Don Braun and Betty (Braun) Siebert.

A memorial service will be held at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Stuart in the spring near her birthday.