Kathryn Ann Blea was born on October 15, 1948 in Julesburg, Colorado to Arbana Davis and Valentino Blea Sr. She passed away on April 13, 2022 at home after a courageous battle with numerous health issues.
In her younger years, Kathy grew up in Julesburg, CO surrounded by many aunts, uncles and cousins until her parents divorced. Then her mother and her two sisters moved back to the Rosebud Reservation. She attended school at St. Francis Indian School and lived there in the dorms. She graduated from SFIS in 1966 and was the Valedictorian of her class. She went to college at the University of South Dakota and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in education in 1970.
She began her teaching career on the Reservation. First teaching at SFIS for 10 years, then she taught at Todd County School District (both High school and Middle School) from 1980 to 2003. She had several opportunities to take other teaching positions in Riverton, WY and Milwaukee but she chose to stay here because she loved her students and wanted to help raise her younger brother, sisters, and nephew. Kathy worked with many students at many different skill levels. She would always take the time to help her students and spend endless hours of her own time making sure she was doing all she could to help her students be successful. Over the years, many of her students would stop by and visit and thank her for all she did for them. She was an excellent teacher and was proud to be one. She always aspired to be the best teacher she could be, even though her health was getting worse.
Kathy was never married and did not have any children of her own, but she always thought of her students, brother, sisters, and nephew as her own children. Her proudest accomplishment was helping to raise her sister Ida’s daughter Alyssa, whom she cherished and loved as the daughter she never had. Alyssa and her aunt were remarkably close and Alyssa was always by her side. Kathy also had many dogs over the years (Butchie, Mickey, Buddie, Peppie, Lilly, Molly....) and they were always treated as a part of the family and held a special place in her heart.
Kathy had many influential people in her life. She always loved her stepfather Cecil R. Scott and cherished all the life lessons he shared with her. She learned at a young age to work hard for everything she had and not to expect anything in return. So began her volunteering at the church, Senior citizens center and the Tree of Life (just to name a few) delivering goods and food to people who were less fortunate. She enjoyed helping her elders and would take the time to make sure they were okay, whether it was with a conversation or getting them things that they needed. She always had time for everyone and would tell them to call her anytime, day or night. She was always ready to lend an ear to listen.
Kathy always spoke of her extended family which included: her teacher friends, her Jesuit family, students she had taught through the years and people she met through her volunteering. She was very spiritual and an avid churchgoer. She found comfort and solace in the church and in her faith. She would love to volunteer her time to help prepare the church for each season and would meticulously arrange flowers, clean, and would take time to help make reading schedules for mass. She would always say, “it’s not just me, but us. It was a Team Effort!” She was also incredibly happy to have started a prayer line, where anyone could call or text her and she would send out a message across her many contacts asking for their prayers for others.
In closing, Kathryn Ann Blea was a great daughter, sister, mother, aunt, teacher, and friend who touched many lives whether she was teaching, volunteering, or helping at the church. She was a very humble and respectful person who never wanted to be glorified or praised for her accomplishments. She will be greatly missed by everyone who had the opportunity to get to know her. If you knew Kathy, she always put others first and she always wanted the best for everyone. She was the most positive person anyone could know.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents: Arbana Davis and Valentino Blea Sr.; her stepfather Cecil R. Scott; her sister Marie A. Blea and her brother James D. Bromm.
She is survived by her sisters: Valma (Blea) Herman and Ida (Keith) Bromm-Larvie of Mission, SD and Mary A. Scott of White River, SD. Her nephew Patrick Herman of Fargo, ND; her Niece Alyssa Garreaux (Carlin Redfish) of Hartford, SD; and step brothers, Darrell Scott of Mission, SD; Mike Scott and Frank Scott both of Soldier Creek, SD. Also, brother, Pat Blea Sr. of Cheyenne, WY and brother Valentino Blea Jr. Of Sterling, CO. She is also survived by numerous relatives on both sides of her family.