Catherine Anne Thooft

About Catherine

Catherine Ann (Bernardy) Thooft was born on March 27, 1937, to Matt and Mary Ann (Wittry) Bernardy near Seaforth in Redwood County, Minnesota. On April 5, 1937, she was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seaforth. She attended school at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Wabasso, MN.

After her graduation in 1955, she became employed at Montgomery Ward in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. On April 30, 1958, she was united in marriage to Ernest Thooft at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Following their marriage, they moved to a farm in Lyon County near Lynd, Minnesota, where she began working for Head Start. In 1996, they retired from farming and moved into Tyler, Minnesota.

Catherine was a member of St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler. For many years, she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting and embroidery. In 1972, she was named the “Lyon County Homemaker of the Year” and in 2003, she received the “Minnesota’s Outstanding Older Worker Award.” She also received the Jill Houseman Award – Western Community Action. In 2017, Catherine moved to Heritage Pointe in Marshall where she became a member of the Dragon Fly team.

Catherine died on Monday, January 13, 2025, at Heritage Pointe Senior Living in Marshall.

She is survived by her children Richard (Shirley) Thooft of Luverne, MN, Jerome Thooft of Moose Lake, MN, Douglas (Brenda) Thooft of Welch, MN. Janine (Douglas) Rassmussen of Reedsburg, WI, Edward (Susan) Thooft of Milroy, MN, Karen (John) Kraemer of Chanhassen, MN, Thomas (Susan) Thooft of Cyrus, MN, Suzanne (Robert) Kirsh of Milroy, MN, Bruce (Kimberly) Thooft of New Prague, MN, and Scott (Deb) Thooft of Lynd, MN; 22 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; siblings Patricia (Gerald) Goblish of Kerkhoven, MN, Marlene (Gerald) Heiling of Green Valley, AZ, Mary Jo (Frank) Pohlen of Janesville, MN, Linda Chapman of Prior Lake, MN, Tom Bernardy of Seaforth, MN and Ron (Lynette) Bernardy of Olivia, MN; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ernest, infant daughter Mary Christine, sister Jean and three brothers Jerome, James and Robert and one brothers-in-law Tom Chapman and Raymond Thooft.

memorial service

Mass of Christian Burial for Catherine

January 17, 2025

St Eloi Church 306 W McQuestion St, Minneota, MN 56264, USA

Visitation will be Thursday, January 16, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall. Visitation will continue on Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. Interment will follow the service at St. Eloi Catholic Cemetery in Ghent. A recording of the service will be available at www.horvathfuneralservice.com.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Horvath Funeral Service