Catherine “Kit” Ann Davis

Catherine Davis, age 96, passed on to the next world on 3/23/18 leaving a legacy from a life fully lived. She was known for her quiet loving strength that she shared with her husband Bud, eleven children, 15 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and with her community of neighbors and friends.

Kit was born in Albany, Minnesota as the tenth child of Joseph and Katherine (Feneis) Schwinghammer, was educated through Albany High School and then St Cloud State University. While teaching elementary school in Otsego, she met and married Orrin “Bud” Davis. They farmed in Elk River until moving to Lake Park in 1951. The two together raised eleven children, fostered high expectations and sent them to college while running a dairy and grain farm.

After 40 years of raising children, Kit’s many activities included: substitute teaching for 15 years, active member of St. Francis Xavier Christian Women for 40 years and the LP Garden Club for 25 years, co-founder of Pumpkin Fest in Lake Park, and sewed with the quilting group Cutups and volunteer work at Sunnyside nursing home for 10 yrs.  She was one of the founders of the LPA Legacy Foundation, which has financed scholarships, the school theater, E-readers and more.  One of Kit’s biggest enjoyments was music, in particular playing “gigs” for over 30 years with groups like the Dingalings or the The Happy Wanderers at nursing homes and assisted living homes until two years before her death.

She is survived by: her Husband Bud;  Sons Gary (Rose), Hastings; Tom (Steve Boyle), Minneapolis; Tim (Gail), Edina; Bill (Nancy), Bismarck, ND; Daughters: Mitzi (Glenn Warner), Pomfret, CT; Nita (Tom Sletten), St. Anthony; Becky (Mark Beeksma), New Brighton; Cathy, Fergus Falls; Grandchildren: Wanda Davis, Susan Williams, Colin & Nathan Davis, Paul & Lukas Warner, Dianna Sletten, Cass, Andrea & Matt Jensen, Josh, Jake & Jordan Davis, Michael & Justin Beeksma; Great grandchildren- Ceonni & Isaiah Williams, London Davis, Colin Warner, Audra Davis and Orrin Davis.

She is predeceased by sons Dan and Russ and daughter Elaine. She is predeceased by all of her siblings: sisters Minnie Blenker (Albany, MN), Agnes Limborg (Seattle, WA), Martha Schiffler (Albany), Mildred Heinen (Minneapolis) and her brothers Al (Sauk Rapids), Eugene (Albany), Louis (Albany). Ed (Freeport), Valerian (Avon) & Joe Jr. Schwinghammer.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Lake Park, MN, on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. with lunch served following the service. Friends and family may gather from 10 to 11 A.M.  Memorials suggested are to the LPA Legacy Foundation or the Lakes Crisis and Resource Center.