Anita Marie Saathoff

Anita Marie Saathoff was born to Ben and Anna Brotsky on August 20th, 1939, in the small town of Gregory, South Dakota. Anita was Ben and Anna’s only child. Her childhood was a rather ordinary one - a generally stable and loving home life, joyful outings with relatives and friends, learning how to play the piano and organ, attending the local Catholic elementary school and high school, etc. – but, without a doubt, the most important aspect of Anita’s upbringing was the fact that she was baptized and raised as a Catholic. Both of Anita’s parents were practicing Catholics and, as such, they made sure to take Anita to Holy Mass on Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation and even daily Mass. Anita said that she was especially impacted by the witness of her mother’s personal piety and devotion, and by how seriously her mother took her (Anita’s) Faith formation. To illustrate this point, Anita would often tell the story of how she tied for first place in a school-wide competition in which students had to correctly answer questions from the Baltimore Catechism by memory.

Anita met her husband, Don Saathoff, in the small town of her birth, Gregory, South Dakota, when they were in high school. Don had been raised Lutheran but decided to become Catholic prior to marrying Anita. Don and Anita were joined in Holy Matrimony in December of 1961 following Don’s graduation from college and entrance into the Army as an Officer. Anita attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Yankton, South Dakota, and worked for various doctors/medical facilities as they moved frequently due to Don being in the military. Don and Anita had three children: Dwight, Curt and John (John died shortly after birth). Although much could be written about Don and Anita’s marriage and the upbringing of their children, the author of this obituary thinks it sufficient to say that Don and Anita were married for sixty-five years “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,(…)” till death did them part on September 16th, 2026, the day Anita Marie Saathoff breathed her last.

Anita is survived by her husband, Don, and her son, Dwight (Lisa) and their children, Daniel, Patrick and John; and her son Curt, and his daughter Alexandra. We kindly ask that all who read this prayer and have Holy Masses offered for the repose of the soul of Anita Saathoff; she would be most grateful.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her, and may her soul and the souls of all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Link to have Masses offered for Anita: https://shrineofdivinemercy.org/mass/form