Katherine Jean (Langel) Brandt

Katherine Jean (Langel) Brandt, left

Katherine Jean (Langel) Brandt, 80, of Rudyard, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013.

Funeral services will be 11 a. m. Monday, Feb. 11, at New Beginnings Lutheran Church in Rudyard. Following burial in Rudyard Cemetery, a luncheon will be held at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.

"Jeanie, " as most of her family called her, was born on Jan. 24, 1933, at the homestead north of Rudyard, the sixth of 10 children of Helen McCann and Arnold "A. C." Langel. She went to grade school at Goldstone School, north of the family farm. To attend high school, she moved in to Rudyard and lived at the Grand Hotel. She graduated from Rudyard High School in 1951. Her first job was working in the telephone office in Rudyard.

While attending a local dance, she met Robert Brandt. They were married Sept. 28, 1952, at the Goldstone church. When their second child was born, they moved to the Brandt farm, which was located between Hingham and Rudyard.

Katherine spent most of her life as a homemaker with seven children to keep her more than busy besides helping with farm work. Robert became the rural mail carrier for the north and south Rudyard routes in 1963. After his health failed, Katherine continued that route along with son, Darryn, for many more years. In addition she worked part time as a postal clerk in Hingham. She also took classes from H&R Block and worked for the company for a while in the late 1970s. The Brandts worked for a while as caretakers of Rudyard Cemetery. Katherine took over the J-&-J grocery store in Rudyard and they moved into town in the early 1990s. Robert passed away in 1996, just a few weeks before their 44th wedding anniversary.

They were members of Hingham Lutheran Church for many years. Katherine was involved in the Koininia Circle and the activities of the women's group. She taught Sunday School and was the church secretary for a time. After giving up driving, she transferred her membership to New Beginnings Lutheran Church in Rudyard.

Most of Katherine's world revolved around her children and especially her beloved grandchildren. She was always excited to see them or hear from them and was proud of any of their accomplishments. She followed Chris and Ryan's sporting events faithfully. Her last big trip was to Lakeside to attend the wedding of her granddaughter, Lindsey.

She loved to sew and enjoyed making jean quilts for graduates. She sewed clothes, including doll clothes, and was talented at crocheting. She loved to read "romances, " work crossword and jigsaw puzzles and watch movies — especially, the Lifetime and Hallmark channels.

Katherine is survived by six children, Marilyn (Bill) Henry of Havre, Robert "Bob" Jr. of Clinton, Clyde (Toni) of Havre, Gary and Jim (Theresa) both of Sun Prairie, and Karen (Dave) Watson of south Joplin; 10 grandchildren, Lindsey (Jim) Bennett of Durham, N.C., Keelie Brandt of Havre, Chris and Ryan Brandt of Missoula, Misty (Jim) Anderson of Ogden, Utah, Edwin (Kaitlyn) Torres of Great Falls, Zachary and Tyler Brandt of Sun Prairie, and Samantha and Topanga Watson of Joplin; one great-grandson, Jensen Anderson of Odgen, Utah; one brother, Stanley (Willie) Langel of Rudyard; two sisters, Audrey (Lloyd) Kaercher of Havre and Lucille Miller of Salem, Ore. ; three sisters-in-law, Ruby Langel of Missoula, JoAnn Langel of Havre, and Alberta Langel of Billings; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; son, Darryn; granddaughter, Rebecca Henry; her parents; brothers, Duane, Bud, Richard and Gerry; sisters, Lillian and Dorothy; and sister-in-law, Alice.

Special thanks to all those who helped care for her the last couple of years in her failing health, especially Stan and Willie, Dale Wendland, Yvette and Rick Shanklin, Taffy and Dakota from the café and many more of her friends around town.