Katherine "Kay" L. Lawrence, 89, of Redfield, SD, died Thursday, July 11, 2013 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. Her funeral will be Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord will officiate. Burial will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery in Redfield. Visitation will be Tuesday, starting at 9:00 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Kay was born in Manhattan, NY November 20, 1923 to immigrant parents Louis Masut (Germany/Italy) and Claire Yarrow (Paraguay). She grew up on Staten Island, NY from where she would venture into and later work in the glamorous New York City during the 1930's and 40's. At 18, Kay married Alden Dahlberg and bore her only son, Les, in NYC. The 11 year marriage took her to southern California where her daughter, Linda, was born.

While working as a secretary at McDonald Douglas, Kay met Frank Ryan Lawrence, a widower from Oklahoma with 2 young daughters of his own. Frank pursued Kay with relentless charm and soon after their marriage the happily blended family, living in Fullerton, CA welcomed 2 more daughters, Karen & JoAnna. People and friends often referred to the family as a musical family. Both Frank and Kay were gifted singers as well as 4 of the daughters. An impromptu and spontaneous family "show" staged in the living room was quite common. Frank and Kay even encouraged the 2 youngest to perform professionally beginning at young ages. Driving to talent shows, contests, and charity events made for many an exciting weekend for the family in the 1960's. Frank died in 1978 and in 1987 Kay moved 80 miles south to live with her mother in San Diego.

In her mid-80's Kay sang with a musical comedy group made up of Seniors. She had a ball helping set-up the stage equipment and starring in many of the original parody productions.

In April 2011, Kay moved to Redfield to live in her own house on her daughter and son-in-law's property. She loved South Dakota for its friendly people, lifestyle, natural beauty, clean air, and lack of traffic and crime. She even loved the winters!

She had many hobbies and interests. She sang and played piano, was interested in psychology, human behavior and natural health. She was an avid reader of non-fiction, loved collecting fine jewelry, had a passion for interior decorating, liked to sew, earned a cosmetology license, enjoyed classic movies, musicals, jazz standards of the 30's, 40's and 50's, as well as classical music and opera.

Though surviving a significant stroke in April 2012, Kay enjoyed trips to Aberdeen and Watertown for a little "retail therapy" at Herberger's and a lovely lunch at Minerva's or Twin Dragon Buffet.

Kay is survived by son, Les Dahberg and daughter-in-law, Patty Lewis of Georgia; daughter, Noralee and son-in-law, Bob Rissi of California; daughter, JoAnna and son-in-law, Dan Sutton of California; daughter, Karen and son-in-law, Joe N. Jungwirth of Redfield, SD. She is also survived by 15 grand children, 6 great grandchildren, 2 sisters and a brother.

Unique, forever-young, earnest, and loving, Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank, daughters, Linda and Joyce and grand-daughter, Natalie.