Kathleen "Kathy" Birkholz

Kathleen “Kathy” Birkholz, 60, of Mayville, ND died Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Hatton Prairie Village in Hatton, ND. Kathy is survived by her husband: Terry Birkholz of Mayville; two daughters: Sandra Norwood of Mayville and Christianna Rice of Lake City, MN; 5 grandchildren; a sister and two brothers. She is preceded in death by her parents: James and Beth Foxley and son: Michael Birkholz. Private memorial services will be planned at a later date. Kathleen “Kathy” Birkholz – she was a wife, a mother, a sister, an auntie, and a friend. But WHO was she really? Besides being spunky, creative, spontaneous, adventurous, and intelligent, she was so much more. Mere adjectives will not due justice as to who Kathy really was. Perhaps the following will open that door to allow you to meet the real Kathy. Hands are the gateways to understanding, the keeper of secrets, and the road to passion -- These hands…. - …Baked Chocolate chip cookies with her children - …Pitched tents and made campfires - …Made Smores the old fashioned way - …Grabbed onto the nearest tree after spraining her ankle hiking back from Lake 22 in the Mt Baker National Forest in the Cascade mountains; hike was 2.5 mile hike one way, she had 2 more miles to go downhill - …Wiped tears away from her own eyes due to laughing so hard at the stories being told by her friends around campfires - …Swiped credit cards purchasing items at the Bon Marche and Nordstrom’s (shopping was her therapy) - …Pointed out the oddities to her children found at the Pike Place Market including food, people, and other culturally unique items found only in the Pacific Northwest - …Gave back massages for her children - …Clapped for joy and pride at Ballet recitals - …Carted soccer balls all over Snohomish County to coach her son and daughter’s soccer team - …Made cinnamon toast in the morning brining a smile to her children - …Shared her favorite breakfast dish ‘Cream of Rice’ with her daughters - …Created drawings of exceptional artist quality using charcoal and pastel mediums - …Stored the classic Disney cartoon movies - …Drew the classic Disney cartoon characters for fun - …Completed cosmetology school but still couldn’t quite cut hair - …Held the steering wheel tightly while driving a little faster than the speed limit - …Held her driver’s license out for the police officer after she was cited for driving a little faster than the speed limit - …Touched the beach sands of Mazatlan Mexico - …Touched the beach sands of Ocean Shores Washington - …Held on to the basket during a Hot Air Balloon ride over the Snohomish County flats while on her anniversary - …Helped her nieces, nephews, and children uncover the wonders found under beach rocks at Kayak Point - …Learned how to hold again after her Aneurism - …Never would pick up a fork to eat eggs; didn’t like eggs unless they were used for baking cookies - …Fiddled with Fuchsia Plants on the porch - …Fixed the TV channel to “General Hospital” to find out what happened to Luke and Laura - …Picked corn with her children, sister and brothers in a neighboring corn field - …Rushed her children, sister and brothers to get out of the corn field since the owner of the field didn’t know he had a ‘U-Pick’ farm - …Provided the basic necessities for her little family by working 3 jobs all at once - …Caressed the cheeks of all her 5 grandbabies - …Chinked champagne glasses full of Mum’s while cruising with her new husband Terry in a Sprite car which was heating up butter for their Lobster (butter was in a safe container to put on the engine of the car) - …Grabbed the side of an inner tube, in desperation, right before falling out during a tubing excursion on the Pilchuck river (only she could manage to fall out of an inner tube) - …Assisted her children in putting on their bathing suit and ‘arm floaties’ so they could swim at Twin Lakes, Lake Goodwin, Pilchuck river, and Flowing Lake - …Held her children’s hands while walking on a real Swinging Bridge in Arlington Washington (the bridge is not there anymore) - …Bumped the Volleyball over the net many times at the house parties she and Terry would have (several of those happened) - …Tied the laces of her very own pair of ice skates during her teen years - …Created a new recipe for Tuna Fish Casserole, complete with Potato Chips, Black Olives and Cream of Mushroom soup - …Turned the volume up to famous tunes from the Beach Boys and danced with her children to Disco music - …Cradled the phone while talking to a friend in need - …Planted a variety of garden seeds and plants - …Allowed the weeds in her garden to have their own space - …Canned tomatoes for days - …Gripped the reins while riding on her childhood horse named ‘Stella’ - …Gripped the reins while ‘Stella’ tried to take the other riders (her sister and brother) on a different route then what was planned - …Wiped the tears away from her sister and brother who didn’t want to go on another adventure with ‘Stella’ the horse - …Held the hands of her sister and brother while moving to Idaho - …Touched the beach sands of Florida - …Packed her bags back into the car 10 minutes after arriving in Florida to visit her daughter; she arrived just in time to go through a hurricane evacuation - …Collected magazines with recipes; was able to burn most things she cooked - …Put out marshmallow fires started by her nieces, nephews, and children - …Insured the Pepsi company would stay in business by being a very loyal customer (consumed over 4000 gallons in her lifetime) - …Lit 246,375 cigarettes (an average of 15 cigarettes a day for 45 years = $50,000 for 12,316+ packs) - …Adjusted her breathing tube from her oxygen tank daily - …Changed the TV channel to watch Whoopie Goldberg movies every weekend, since Whoopie was the best actress and singer to ever live, according to her - …snapped together the buckles for her Snowpants beginning at the end of September till June the following year-New fashion statement or a new skin, we couldn’t figure it out - …Pieced together graphic art for a Snohomish County local paper featuring the band ‘Paul Revere and the Raiders’ (the 70’s didn’t have Window’s software at the time) - …Stitched and Embroidered butterflies and flowers onto pillow cases and coffee table runners - …Petted and cared for numerous stray cats which would find their way onto the land over the years - …Splashed her nieces and nephews with river water from the favorite secret family picnic spot- Big Rock (farmer of land didn’t know he had a tourist destination until years later) - …Turned the wheel of her favorite vehicle, the Lawnmower, to go back home after being pulled over by the police - …Set the table during holidays with her favorite gold plated utensils and corning ware dishes - …Held the picture of her son many times over, remembering the good times they shared before he died, while at the same time wondering why he had to die at 21 - …Decorated for every holiday, season, and any other event which required to have some type of decoration-house was always going through a decoration change - …Carefully placed Elvis Presley holiday records on the record player which would be played more than there was time in the day during the holidays - …Donned skies, skied Steven’s Pass and DIDN’T break or sprain her ankle - …Patted her husband’s knee during an amazing race- two adults and 2 teenagers were traveling from Washington to North Dakota in 20 hours in a 280z car (no back seats) - …Touched the beach sands of Cannon Beach Oregon - …Slapped at the Volkswagen hood in frustration after a night on the town, her and her friends couldn’t open the trunk to get their purses; long story short, it wasn’t their Volkswagen, their car was 3 cars down, as pointed out by the real owner of the car they were cursing. If you have a funny story or comment to add, please do so by using the comment section. Your comment will be viewable within 48 hours. The only thing we request is that you keep your comments clean (no profanity or other adult themed comments please) so that others may smile and enjoy learning more about Kathy and why she was a wonderful person to you. Thank you for being a friend to Kathy