Kathy Lee Brandner was born on October 1, 1950 in Mobridge, South Dakota to George and Leona Brandner of Herreid, South Dakota. Earlier this year, Kathy had a respiratory illness and never fully recovered. She passed into the loving arms of Jesus while at her Black Hills Works home on May 13, 2025 surrounded by family and staff who loved her.

Kathy was the youngest of three girls, keeping the family busy as she had special needs and blindness. She was doted on by her devoted parents from the moment this earth was blessed with her. Kathy enjoyed spending time with her collie dog named “Lassie”-- they were friends for life. The Lassie movie was one of her favorites to watch. She went to the Herreid Public School for one year in a special needs class, then transferred to Redfield State School. During the summers, she would go home to the farm and enjoyed fishing with her mom and dad at their cabin on the Missouri River near Pollock, SD. In 1985, Kathy moved to Rapid City and was welcomed into the Black Hills Works program, where she spent the next 40 years.

Kathy spent many years getting on the bus each morning and working for South Dakota Tourism labeling envelopes. She also enjoyed the two excursions she spent at the Suncatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy. Kathy showed others around her how to endure through pain while suffering from seizures and nerve issues throughout her life. Kathy was blessed with extra financial support and enjoyed buying supplies for other organizations in need including the Humane Society, local veteran groups, and other organizations. Kathy loved the dances and holiday parties organized by Black Hills Works. She also really enjoyed music and spent many hours intently listening to her radio. A book of animal pictures was always around so she could show everyone which ones were her favorite. Everyone that knew Kathy will miss hearing “I happy”, “I help you”, “I talk you”, or “I want my bear, bear, bears”. Kathy had a special love for stuffed puppy dogs and bears, always ensuring they traveled with her on outings. She was also a lady that couldn’t leave the house without her purse and tucked away you could find a stash of Lifesavers and Werther’s hard candy, a portable radio, a catalog, a deck of cards, and $2.00. “I rich” was proclaimed to everyone she encountered. Along with her mother, Lee, and sister Francie, Kathy spent many Saturday’s shopping for a big book of animals, eating lunch at Taco John’s, and ending the day at evening Mass at the Cathedral.

Kathy’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff, “Sweeties” as Kathy would call them, at the Black Hills Works facility on Fir Street for their compassionate care and support over the years. They spent every day with Kathy, taking her on many excursions, managing her candy stash, and listening to her silly comments. She will be remembered for her hugs and kisses she freely gave, her spunk, her compassion for others, her love for books, and her love for cheeseburgers. To those who meant a lot to Kathy, she would like to leave you with “I love you whole bunches, you are my Sweetie Pie”.

Kathy is survived by her sister Frances (Donald) Solinsky and their children Dean (Ann) Solinsky, Ann (Cody) Thorson, Karen (Curtis) Anderson, and eight great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Nancy Finch and her children Jennifer Finch-Mitchell (Todd Mitchell), Stephanie (Shawn) Powers, Rebecca (Jeff) Almy, Jessica Finch (Juan Badiola), and six great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George (2002) and Leona (2015) Brandner, and brother-in-law Dennis Finch (2014).