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Kathleen ‘Kathy’ J. Cavanaugh, November 25, 1942 • February 11, 2022

Lead Summary

Kathy Cavanaugh, 79, of De Graff, Minnesota and formerly of Andover, SD passed away Friday, February 11, 2022 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Funeral services for Kathy will take place at St. Mark’s Lutheran church (Benson, Minnesota) at 10:30 a.m.  Sun., July 31.  After that, she will be laid to rest in her native land of South Dakota.  On the day of the funeral, there will be a brief time of visitation with the family, along with morning refreshments, from 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  
Kathleen (Kathy) Joy Cavanaugh was born November 25, 1942 in Webster, South Dakota.  Kathy was adopted into the family of God through the waters of baptism December 10, 1942.  Kathy attended country school for eight years at Day County District #29.  She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran church (Andover, South Dakota) in 1956.  In 1964, she graduated from South Dakota State University (SDSU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  It was also that year that she was a member of the Girls’ Rodeo Team and was crowned the SDSU Rodeo Queen.
After graduation, she pursued her nursing career with her first job at Memorial Hospital in Watertown, South Dakota.  During that summer, she fulfilled her duties with the SDSU Rodeo Team by participating in the National Finals in Wyoming (where she placed third).  From there she joined some of her fellow college classmates and worked in the operating room in Denver, Colorado.  Wanting to explore some more, she then moved to Spokane, Washington and then to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. 
A family injury brought her back to South Dakota, to assist with farm duties.  She returned to work in the Memorial Hospital operating room for the summer; then, in 1970, she moved to Benson, Minnesota to continue her career in public health.  That agency became known as Countryside Public Health Service.  In 1972, Kathy moved to DeGraff, along with some horses and (later) donkeys.  She continued showing horses for many years and became an active horse show judge for the WSCA, judging shows all over the area for 16 years.  In 1990, she fell in love with miniature donkeys.  She kept a herd of them at her place in DeGraff.
After 20 years, Kathy “retired” from public service in order to explore other interests, including Meeker County Group homes and REM Health in Willmar.  Then she became the Medical Manager for railroad injuries for BNSF and TCI railways.  During her leadership, the counties involved started programs such as: WIC, public immunization clinics, local control over food, beverage and lodging licensing, funding for First Responder medical teams throughout the areas, early childhood screening programs, expanded home cares services, early development of Hospice programs and home-delivered meals.  She served as the Medical Administrator for the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, where she helped develop various medical services for the prison.  
From there, she ventured into working with some railroads; and did some private medical management for the Burlington Northern Railway, the Red River Valley Railroad in North Dakota, TCI Railroad in Glencoe, Minnesota  and the Canadian Railroad in Detroit, MI.  During all her time working for those railroads, she was able to do it from home.  As Kathy greatly enjoyed working with railroads, she also began working for a company out of Boston that serviced the BNSF Railroad, as well as several other short lines.  She continued that work until she officially “retired” (for good) in 2011.
Having the time to pursue other interests, Kathy continued to raise miniature donkeys at her little farm in DeGraff.  She also enjoyed traveling to far-off lands for “adventure trips”.  Her first trip was with her church, as they traveled to Greece, Turkey and Germany (to visit Luther Land).  Then she traveled to Africa, where she found a love for wild animals.  After that initial trip, Kathy returned to Africa several times.  She also traveled to Nepal, to visit the amazing Himalayan mountains.  While there, she enjoyed trekking through the mountains and riding elephants.  Her last adventure trip was to Alaska.  In addition to traveling, Kathy loved golfing with her friends.
Kathy was a devoted member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Benson.  Kathy was a dedicated servant to her church family and a generous supporter of the work of the church.  
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Sherman and Olga Cavanaugh (Andover, SD).  She is survived by her brother, Rodger (Jan); and her nephew, Cody Cavanaugh (married to Jessica) who all live in Neenah, Wisconsin.

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