Katherine M. Kampa, 88, Lewiston

Katherine Mae Kampa of Lewiston passed away Monday evening, April 5, 2010, from an age-related illness at Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics in Orofino.

Mrs. Kampa was born in Grand Rapids, Minn., May 2, 1921, to Martin and Alice Halvorsen, the youngest of four daughters.

She married Bernard (Ben) Kampa in February 1943, who was serving in the U.S. Army at Camp Hale, Colo. She and Ben celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary shortly before his passing on March 31, 2009.

Katherine, as she was known to her friends, was employed by the Bell Telephone Company throughout World War II and was a head operator working with personnel throughout the United States during the wartime period.

Katherine, Ben and their first three children left Minnesota and moved to Lewiston in 1951, where he was employed by the Lewiston Morning Tribune. There, she resumed her work with the telephone company.

After her family grew to six children, she settled into life as a homemaker and loving mother. In the late 1960s, she established a home day-care center, and over a period of 20 years, cared for hundreds of children in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. She retired in the late 1980s with her husband Ben.

Katherine is survived by her six children, Paige MacDonald and Jack of Great Falls, Va., Jane Cooke and Terry of Oak Hill, Va,. Joe Kampa and Kate of Oak Hill, Tim Kampa and Randi of Great Falls, Midge Vivian and George of Idaho Falls, and Casey Meza and Michael of Orofino; 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Orofino.

In recognition of the care provided to Katherine during the past year by the Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics, and the Clearwater Health and Rehabilitation Center, and the dedicated staff members, a memorial fund in honor of Katherine has been established. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Katherine Mae Kampa Memorial Fund, U.S. Bank, 333 Michigan Ave., Orofino, ID 83544.