Kathryn Marie (Walleen) Nytes

Kathy and her late husband, Cyril Nytes, were long time residents of Hesperia, CA and worked together in the family's contracting business mostly doing beautiful custom finish work. They had been married 39 years at the time of his death in 1989.

For the last 15 years Kathy lived in Panguitch, Utah with her companion , Fred Lutjens. Together they traveled all over the world and hosted many a family party at Fred's lovely brick bungalow. Kathy and Fred were also a big help at Peggy's B&B in Panguitch. We are grateful to Fred for those last happy years together. We are also grateful to her daughter, Nancy who lived with them for the last year helping out until Kathy's care required she return to Hesperia where most of her kids lived. There Nancy was still Kathy's main caregiver.

Kathy was born at home on the farm near Clara City, Minnesota. She got a teaching certificate after high school and taught in a one room schoolhouse. After marrying Cy they had their own dairy farm for a few years but decided to head west to California in 1958. They settled first in Claremont and later in Chino. She returned to teaching first at Boy's Republic in Chino and later as a sub at Juniper Elementary in Hesperia. After Cy passed away one of her favorite jobs was running the ice cream parlor at Sterling Inn Retirement Community in Victorville.

Kathy is survived by her brother, Richard Walleen of Menomonee, WI, her six children, Peggy Nyates-Egan(Brett), David Nytes(Lita), LuAnn Tarrice, Nancy Coe, Jean Elliott (Rick) and Mark Nytes. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Cyril, her parents, Quince and Lucille Walleen, her sister, Phyllis, her brother, Jim and her grandson, Jeremy.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for early September in Apple Valley, California.