1928
Kathleen
2024
Kathleen Monica Kaltved
September 17, 1928 — March 28, 2024
Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Kathleen was an only child born to her father John (Jack) Henry James and her mother Mary Murray (Polly) Reid. Kathleen was born on September 17th in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales. Kathleen had two half-sisters, Jeannie Sweeting, and Alfreda Sweeting from her mother's first marriage. During WWII her father Jack James drowned in the North Sea in an unfortunate accident in 1940. Kathleen was 12 years old when he died and was very close to her father. In her early years, she attended grade school in Cardiff and spent many nights in Fallout Shelters during the early years of WWII as the Germans bombed England and Wales. She narrowly avoided harm/death when her class was being escorted to swim lessons and her school was hit by an accidental stray bomb from a German plane. Kathleen worked as an AID Worker on the Cardiff docks in 1944-1945 in support of Allied forces stationed there who were preparing for the Normandy and Omaha Beach invasions in France. It was there that she met an American farm boy from Estherville, Iowa named Willis Kaltved. These two connected on the dance floor on the docks in Cardiff, and were married on January 5th, 1946, at St Germans Church in Cardiff Wales. The attendants were Joyce Barry of Cardiff and Pvt. Carl Brockway of Milwaukee, WI. Kathleen was a war bride on the SS Saturnia and arrived in New York, NY on June 1, 1946, to be reunited with Willis in Estherville, lowa upon his return from the war.
Kathleen lived on a farm in Estherville that was owned by his mother, waiting for Willis to return. As a young bride she learned many things about farm animals, raising chickens and selling them to the local farm families. It was on the farm that they raised four children.
She also got into selling World Book Encyclopedia and became the number one salesperson in rural America for World Book Encyclopedia for selling the most books. She was honored at the World Book national convention in Kansas City, Missouri and addressed the thousands in attendance on how to sell successfully in a rural setting. The family moved to Bird Island, Minnesota in 1956 where the family lived and worked on a commercial turkey farm. Kathleen also worked at restaurants and nursing homes during the years they lived in western Minnesota. The family subsequently moved to Rockford, Illinois where she continued to raise her teenage family. She worked outside the home in various retail stores, honing her sales and marketing skills. On April 9th, 1968, Kathleen received her Certificate of Nationalization gaining her official US Citizenship.
In 1978, Kathleen elected a bold move to take over ownership of a Wicks 'N' Sticks Store in the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino, CA. She and Willis moved to California and lived there for 13 years and successfully managed the Wicks 'N' Sticks franchise and later opened their own candle and gifts store before they moved back to Rockford, IL when Willis' health failed him. Kathleen was a faithful caretaker of Willis until his passing on December 4,1991. She continued her active lifestyle helping school children with remedial reading, working at JC Penney, and attending senior dances until 2011. It was then that Kathleen was diagnosed with a serious health issue that at the time would have quickly taken her life without surgery. In 2012 at the age of 84, she had the then-rare Whipple Procedure which granted her another 11 plus years of life to grace her family.
Kathleen has been an active traveler, dancer, beer drinker (Guinness and Miller Lite) and fun-loving all her life, but more importantly, she dedicated her life to a strong Christian faith which she imparted to others without hesitation.
She is survived by son Paul (wife Karen) and son Mark (partner Debbie), daughter Pamela (husband Larry) and daughter Rhonda (husband Ben) along with 10 grandchildren and scores of great grandchildren. Grandma K, or the Queen of Wales as she is affectionately known, will be greatly missed. May Gods angels attend to her until we meet again!
Kathleen's funeral service will be at 2:00 Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Bradshaw, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater, with visitation one hour prior to service. Memorials to Alzheimer's Association preferred.
Kathleen lived on a farm in Estherville that was owned by his mother, waiting for Willis to return. As a young bride she learned many things about farm animals, raising chickens and selling them to the local farm families. It was on the farm that they raised four children.
She also got into selling World Book Encyclopedia and became the number one salesperson in rural America for World Book Encyclopedia for selling the most books. She was honored at the World Book national convention in Kansas City, Missouri and addressed the thousands in attendance on how to sell successfully in a rural setting. The family moved to Bird Island, Minnesota in 1956 where the family lived and worked on a commercial turkey farm. Kathleen also worked at restaurants and nursing homes during the years they lived in western Minnesota. The family subsequently moved to Rockford, Illinois where she continued to raise her teenage family. She worked outside the home in various retail stores, honing her sales and marketing skills. On April 9th, 1968, Kathleen received her Certificate of Nationalization gaining her official US Citizenship.
In 1978, Kathleen elected a bold move to take over ownership of a Wicks 'N' Sticks Store in the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino, CA. She and Willis moved to California and lived there for 13 years and successfully managed the Wicks 'N' Sticks franchise and later opened their own candle and gifts store before they moved back to Rockford, IL when Willis' health failed him. Kathleen was a faithful caretaker of Willis until his passing on December 4,1991. She continued her active lifestyle helping school children with remedial reading, working at JC Penney, and attending senior dances until 2011. It was then that Kathleen was diagnosed with a serious health issue that at the time would have quickly taken her life without surgery. In 2012 at the age of 84, she had the then-rare Whipple Procedure which granted her another 11 plus years of life to grace her family.
Kathleen has been an active traveler, dancer, beer drinker (Guinness and Miller Lite) and fun-loving all her life, but more importantly, she dedicated her life to a strong Christian faith which she imparted to others without hesitation.
She is survived by son Paul (wife Karen) and son Mark (partner Debbie), daughter Pamela (husband Larry) and daughter Rhonda (husband Ben) along with 10 grandchildren and scores of great grandchildren. Grandma K, or the Queen of Wales as she is affectionately known, will be greatly missed. May Gods angels attend to her until we meet again!
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathleen Monica Kaltved, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, April 7, 2024
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)
Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center - Stillwater
Funeral Service
Sunday, April 7, 2024
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Central time)
Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center - Stillwater
Guestbook
Visits: 729
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors