Kathy Sletten 05/22/2023

After a courageous battle with breast cancer, Kathy Kaye Kampa Sletten went to her heavenly home on Monday, May 22, 2023. God answered her prayers, and she was able to be surrounded by many of her loved ones on Saturday and Sunday before her passing.Kathy Kaye, “Toddo,” was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on August 21, 1960 to Barbara (Hatlestad) and Victor Kampa.  The family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1962 where she attended West High School. She was the Homecoming Queen and graduated in 1978.  She attended UW-Madison where she met her husband, David Paul Sletten.  He was “the boy upstairs.”  They were married on October 1, 1983.  Kathy and Dave moved to Houston, Texas, where she started a career in the travel industry.  She worked for many years as a travel agent, organizing group travel. She especially enjoyed taking groups to Russia, bringing home beautiful pins, Matryoshka dolls, and carved Santas for family and friends.  Later in her career, she worked for Delta Airlines, and enjoyed the travel opportunities this job afforded her, taking many spontaneous trips on standby with family and friends.  A few of her favorite travel destinations were Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.They were blessed with two children, Matthew James Sletten and Elizabeth Kathryn (Sletten) Skoglund. They were proud to attend both Matthew and Elizabeth’s sporting events growing up, as well as Elizabeth’s choir concerts.  When Elizabeth attended UW-Eau Claire, a favorite music event of theirs was the Viennese Ball.  She and Dave took waltzing lessons to fully prepare for and enjoy the event. One of her greatest joys was her granddaughter, Elin Croix Skoglund, born 2-22-22.  In her final weeks, Elin visited her many times at the hospital. Despite her health, she always perked up watching her toddle around, play, and practice her animal sounds.  Kathy loved to cook and entertain, spending countless hours looking through cookbooks with Dave as they menu planned.  She set a beautiful table, carefully selecting which set of dishes were perfect for the event. Kathy also cooked at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater for Matthew and Elizabeth’s Wednesday Night School, and loved cooking Birthday breakfasts for her children and their friends each year. She loved Christmas, decorating every inch of their Victorian home to look like a Christmas gift shop, and would listen to her favorite Christmas album, The Steeles, year round.  She collected a Christmas ornament from each of her travel destinations, and would tell stories about them as the family decorated the tree. She was a proud member of the exclusive Nefertiti club, which includes three generations of strong, sassy women. She is survived by her son, Matthew Sletten; daughter, Elizabeth (Michael) Skoglund and granddaughter, Elin Croix Skoglund; father, Victor James Kampa and mother, Barbara (Hatlestad) Kampa; sister, Lori (Randy) Williams; brother, Mark (Karen) Kampa; mother-in-law, Phyllis (Nesseth) Sletten; sister-in-law, Linda (Dean) Johnson; brother-in-law, Michael Sletten; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, David Paul Sletten; maternal grandparents, Ole and Bertha Hatlestad; paternal grandparents, Caroline and George Kampa; father-in-law, Paul Sletten; and beloved aunts and uncles. A memorial service was held on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 12pm with visitation starting at 11am at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (805 East Division Street) River Falls, Wisconsin, and was live streamed using the link below.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Kathy’s service.