Kathryn was born August 3, 1926, at York, Nebraska, the fifth of ten children of Mary Therese (Beide) and Frances Neville. After her schooling, in a one-room-grade-school and the Fairbanks High School, she worked at a nearby Air Base. This was 1943 during World War II. Besides working she entertained the servicemen with her singing. She was very lovely and therefore, attracted many suitors; however, one day as she was caring for some children and thinking about her future, she felt Jesus asking her to give her life to him alone.

At the age of 22 she entered the convent at Clyde on September 14, 1949. Photos of her among thirteen postulants, and later with 22 novices show her happy, as indeed she was. She pronounced her first vows on May 20, 1951. For her next five years she faithfully worked in the stitching room, embroidering on the tamborine machine. After her final vows, May 27, 1956, she moved to Tucson. There she enjoyed working with the date industry, printing, and later, in 1968- 71, as subprioress. She was then Prioress in San Diego till 1974—"Three of my happiest years, especially working with Angela and Ted DeGrazia in publishing 'God and a Mouse'."

In 1974 Kathryn was elected to the General Council and moved to St. Louis although from 1976-78 she lived with a small group at "Rickenbach" at Clyde (a remodeled old canning room), later at Mundelein Convent until the Fransiscan Brothers took over. She and two of the sisters were elected on to the General Council, therefore, the experiment ceased.

An unforgettable experience she records was her trip to Europe as M. M. Audrey's companion. She wrote a photo-account detailing the visit to the Vatican, Venice, the island of San Georggio, Maria Rickenbach, Marienberg, Monte Cassino—"this trip was pure gift!"

Asked to be prioress in Kansas City, she helped close the monastery from 1982-84. She then moved to Clyde where she was elected prioress in 1986. Soon after, cancer began to weaken her so that in November 1990 she moved to the Health Care Center in St. Louis.

February 24, 1991, Ray, her sister Theresa and her husband, drove to see her as they had been told of her failing strength. She was so happy to have her family close. They visited that day, the sisters kept watch all night, and then the next afternoon, Kathryn peacefully breathed her last with Ray at her side holding her hand. She died at 3:40 p.m.

Kathryn will be remembered as a woman of deep peace, a loving smiling, laughing sister, happy with life. Kathryn not only accepted persons, she thrilled to see their individual uniqueness and was always excited to see expressions of their creativity. Her melodious voice will continue to delight us as she "sings forever of her love for you, O Lord."