Katie Harding

IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Having fought the good fight for 94 years, Katie Ola “Katherine” Peeler Dustin Harding burst the bands of age and illness on January 31, 2010, and, borne by the wings of angels, went to claim her eternal reward. She was under the care of her loving family and Hospice of Eastern Idaho. The fourth child and second daughter in a family of six children, Katherine was born August 16, 1915, to William Lester Peeler and Newtie Cunningham Peeler in the little rural town of Sulligent, Alabama. She came with her family by train as a young child to a new home in Idaho. Her family, like many others, was affected by the financial crash of 1929 when the banks closed. The dark days of the Depression followed and Katie graduated from Idaho Falls High School. Following the untimely death of her father, she graduated from Idaho State University, the only one of her siblings to be college educated. Opportunities were scarce, and she accepted a teaching post in a one room school house on Pine Creek Bench for $75 per month plus room and board. Subsequent years took her to such metropolitan areas as Ashton, Alpine, Grays Lake, Jameston, Cobalt, Palisades, and finally Ucon, where she spent the next 25 years teaching more than 1000 students their elementary education. Her dedication and hard work were the primary means of support for her family. On May 22, 1939, she married Kenneth Miner Dustin in Bozeman, Montana, and to their union was born a daughter, Karla, and a son, Garth. Their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple in 1962. Kenneth died May 11, 1980. Following her retirement from teaching and finding herself a widow, she married Glen Henry Harding December 10, 1982, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Their life together was filled with lifelong friends who shared their love for square dancing. They traveled, danced, camped and otherwise enjoyed their 25 years together. Katherine is survived by her children, Karla (Wendell) Richardson and Garth (DeeAnn) Dustin, both of Idaho Falls, Carma (Doyle) Lufkin of Annis and Dawn (Lee) Larsen of Bountiful, UT, a brother, Arthur Peeler, a sister, Marian Jensen, 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, a granddaughter, Rebecca Richardson, two brothers, Fred Peeler and Foster Peeler, and a sister, Mattie Ahlstrom. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 6, 2010, at the Idaho Falls LDS 13th Ward, 955 Memorial Drive, with Bishop Greg Poulter officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge, and Saturday from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Ucon Cemetery. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Randy Murdock So sorry to hear of her passing , We had some good times square dancing and just visiting with her. God Bless you all. Randy and Gay Murdock rbgerdes@ida.net Dear family, We would like to express our deepest sympathies for your loss. I have known "Mrs. Dustin" since I was in grade school. She was friends with my Aunt Sybil and taught school with mom, Ruby Sharp. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. May the Lord bless and comfort you. Becky Sharp Gerdes and Ruby Sharp Family Dawn Larsen mdlarsn@msn.com Katie was a kind and gracious lady and I always appreciated the way she treated Carma and me. She was a positive influence for hundreds of students during her professional teaching career and the world is a better place because she was here. Carol (Maxfield) Jensen Karla and Garth and Families: I have fond memories of your sweet mother . . . and Ucon. She had such a fun laugh and knew so much. She was a good lady and how blessed you are to have had her as a mother and grandmother. She was a friend to all who knew her. Remember - memories are the legacy of love. May you all be blessed with comfort and peace at this tender time. Love you all, Carol & Rodger Jensen LaDessa Smith and Nola Harris The memory of Aunt Katie will always hold a very special place in our hearts. We are so sorry she will no longer be a part of all our lives and especially the lives of Garth, Karla, Carma, Dawn and families. Unfortunately, distance prevents us being with you on Friday. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Beverly (Clegg) and Skip Cline clinrthd@msn.com To Katie's family we send our deepest sympathy. I was very blessed to have known Katie for the many years I did her hair. She was such a very special lady. Each person leaves a little bit of herself with you and I am grateful for that. May God be with you at this time. Pat Harding Olsen oleandpat@comcast.net We wanted to Thank You for sharing your Mother with us and our Uncle Glen. My husband & I danced with them when we came to Idaho Falls for family visits. Your Mother was a wonderful lady and I believe she helped Uncle Glen enjoy his later years. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Pat & Heber Olsen Marjorie Lusk marjorie.lusk@isp.idaho.gov Dear Karla, I have found it is a very small world. I have found that I knew your Mom and Dad before I knew you. They square danced with my parents. They were always so kind. I remember pushing her wheelchair into the temple for Mark and Misty's wedding. She was a very special lady and we will have good memories of her. Our sincere condolences to you and your family. Marjorie Lusk family