Catharine Whitehead - Brookings

Sept. 15, 1926 – April 24, 2018

Posted

Catharine (Cathy) Whitehead, 91, died peacefully on Tuesday April 24, 2018, at the United Living Community in Brookings. 

Visitation is Tuesday May 1, from 5-7 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Eidsness Funeral Home with the Rev. Dorthy Tufte officiating. Burial is in Greenwood Cemetery.  

Catharine Mary Hendrick was born in Milbank on Sept. 15, 1926 to Dr. Lewis C. and Mary (Patridge) Hendrick. She attended school in Milbank, graduating from Milbank High School. She continued her education at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1948.

Following college graduation, Cathy became a research assistant in Station Biochemistry at South Dakota State University. While working at SDSU, she met and fell in love with a young biochemist – Gene Whitehead. Cathy and Gene married on June 18, 1955. Their nearly 56 years of marriage were lived in Brookings with the exception of 10 years in Boulder Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In 1959, Cathy and Gene added their daughter, Lisbeth Jean and Scott Carlton in 1961 and eventually son-in-law Roger, daughter-in-law Vicki and two granddaughters, Amber and Nichole. In her later years, Cathy enjoyed her “adopted” great-grandchildren, Wynley, Hollyn, Leyna, and Oryn Rausch of Brookings.

 Cathy was a life-long member of the First United Methodist church, serving as church organist for 25 years. She also played for numerous funerals for the Eidsness Funeral home. Cathy was a member of PEO Chapter P, Music Club, and the organist guild.

Cathy enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was truly an inspiration to all who met her. She also enjoyed attending music and theatre performances at SDSU, quilting and cross-stitch. She and Gene enjoyed travelling to Europe. In June 2005, they celebrated their 50th anniversary in London with their daughter and son-in-law.

Survivors include her daughter Lisbeth (Roger) Solum of Watertown, son Scott (Vicki) Whitehead of Brookings; two grandchildren; her little sister, Carol Hendrick of NYC and brother Russell (Lorry) Hendrick of Minneapolis; numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; in-laws, Irving and May Whitehead; nephew James L. Hendrick of North Carolina; brother and sisters in law Blaine, Mary/Wanda Whitehead; Don and Virigina Hilmoe.