Cathoryn "Kay" Strothman

Kay Strothman died January 6, 2024, at age 94, after a brief stay at Missouri Slope Care Center in Bismarck.

She was born to John and Carolyn (Mattoon) Madl, in Underwood, ND on July 11, 1929, and named Cathoryn Mary, after her mother’s deceased twin sister.

After graduating from Underwood High in 1948 she moved to attend business classes at Bismarck Community College. She married Berkley B. Strothman (Bowman, ND) in 1950. Her first employment was at the Bismarck Water Department and continued working at City Hall for 26 years.

Kay valued her family and friendships and enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, flower gardening, clothes shopping and she was an excellent housekeeper and cook, leaving all her girls with cookbooks full of notations.

Kay is survived by her husband Berk of 73 years and their three daughters: Cody Kay Strothman (Richard Goodwin) and Lynn Rae Moser (Wade) in Bismarck, and Sanda Lea Putnam in Prescott AZ.  They have four granddaughters – Kyle Lynn Putnam (Leo Gonzalez-Hernadez) in Lake Tapps WA; Erica Sue Hynes (Colt) in Aledo TX; Kate Lynn Black (Wyatt) and Twila Elaine Weis (Nick) both in Bismarck. They have ten great grandchildren – Berklee Kay, Cambria Kate, and Brita Wade Black; Jackson Cash, Caroline Lea, Brooklyn Diane, and James Randall Hynes; Dekker Jerry and Rhett Benjamin Weis; and Elijah Gonzalez. She is also survived by her brother’s six adult children – Lyle John Madl in ND, Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Jean Grogen, Terry Dean Madl, Pamela Ann Miller, Clay Jeffrey Madl, and Kimberly Kay Culp, all in Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John ‘Jack’ M. Madl and sister-in-law Delores (Davis) Madl. 

Per Kay’s wishes, she bequeathed her body to University of ND School of Medicine and there will be no funeral service. Condolences can be mailed to the Strothman Family at 3425 England Street, Bismarck ND 58504. 

Memorials would be greatly appreciated by the Central Dakota Humane Society, 2104 37^th St., Mandan ND 58554 or the Scottish Rite Speech Therapy Center, PO Box 2094, Bismarck ND 58502-2094.

Kay often stated she was grateful to have had a long and wonderful life, as were all of us who knew her.