S. Kathleen Hickenbotham, OSB
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S. Kathleen Hickenbotham, OSB, 72, died Monday, December 12, 2011 at Sacred Heart Monastery following a brief illness.

A wake service will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 7:30 pm, and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 10:30 am in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel in Yankton, South Dakota. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.

Kathleen Mary Hickenbotham was born on April 13, 1939 in Worthington, MN to Melvin Doyle and Ethel Caroline (Page) Hickenbotham. She was the oldest daughter in a family of six girls and one boy. She spent several years of her early childhood in LaCrescent, MN. The family later moved to Waterloo, IA and then to Sioux Falls, SD when she was fifteen. She graduated from Washington High School in 1957 and entered Sacred Heart Monastery in August of that year.

She was invested as a novice in 1958 and received the name Sharon which she later changed back to her baptismal name of Kathleen. She made first profession on June 29, 1959 and final profession in 1962. Her ministry included elementary education in Pueblo, CO, Lincoln, NE, Ipswich and Yankton, SD. She earned a BA degree from Mount Marty College and BA degree in fine art from Southern Colorado State University. After earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Oregon, she taught art at Mount Marty College followed by full-time work at the monastery as resident artist in the areas of calligraphy, watercolor and ceramics. In 1986 she received a Bush grant for a 6-week cultural history tour in Europe studying famous artwork and architecture. S. Kathleen served for almost 30 years in leadership of the Yahweh-Shalom Prayer Group in Yankton. She was also very active in the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center, Reach for Recovery, Connecting Artists, and the American Benedictine Academy serving in leadership positions in these organizations. S. Kathleen was a gentle woman of deep faith and prayer, with a love of nature and beauty, and a welcoming smile to all she met.

She is survived by her Benedictine community; five sisters: Jean (Ranzie) Zandt, Rosemary (Loren) Mose, Cynthia (Duane) Beck all of Sioux Falls, SD; Judith (David) Stroh, Luverne, MN; and Ruth (Rev. John) Lundin, St. Peter's, MO; sister-in-law: Donna Hickenbotham, Armour, SD as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Raoul.

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This beautiful person so enriched my life through Connecting Artists. We all loved her and will miss her gentle smile and warm affection. Her wonderful art will forever be a lasting legacy to all who enjoy it's beauty. Jean R. Johnson Kathleen was the best of friends. I met her when we started Connecting Artists. She was the rock in the group and was a mentor to many. She was a gifted calligrapher and ceramist and was always there with a smile. I considered her a buddy and was delighted and honored to know her. Judy Mace, Tyndall Kathleen was loved by all. She did prison ministry with me at Springfield and was always caring and in tune with the inmates. She will be missed by all, especially those whose lives she touched in Springfield. I will miss her warm loving smile. Leah Smith Sister Kathleen was a friend and inspiration to me several years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was my Reach to Recovery volunteer during both of my hospital stays, and I felt so blessed to be in her presence during those difficult times. She made me a beautiful calligraphy piece which I had framed and have appreciated every day since..."Be not afraid for I am with you always." I will miss her wonderful spirit and presence, and I feel honored to have called her a friend. Amy Miner She has a dear friend ever since we met at pray meeting in 81, also consoling & ever so helpful at the time of the death of our 2 sons in 87 & cont. on through all these years. GOD BLESS YOU SISTER Roman Steffen What an inspiration she was to all she met. I am so happy our paths crossed. She surly do leave footprints on my heart. I know she will be missed by her fellow sisters. May God Bless you all. Our paths crossed many times in her short life. She walked through my life and left footprints on my heart. To her fellow sisters, you are in my prayers. May God bless you all. Marge Stoebner Our most sincere sympathy to each of the Hickenbothum family. God's Love and Peace Lloyd & Donna Knutson I just wanted you to know how blessed I feel for being able to share some sweet time with S. Kathleen. I was able to frame some of her beautiful artwork. She had such a gentle sweet spirit and will be missed. Monta Storm I knew Sr Kathleen through Connecting Artists and will be forever grateful for her encouragement as well as her wonderful gift as an Artist. Her life was an expression of her faith and seen beautifully through her Art. I have a piece of her calligraphy watercolor and have always treasured it as a connection to her. I will keep you all in my prayers as you celebrate her legacy yet grieve. May you experience God meeting your deepest needs. Beverly G. Henkel Sister brought such light and joy to the few encounters I had with her. Her warmth radiated from her. May God richly reward her. Joleen Bos Dear Family and Friends, My sincere condolences to you for the passing of our friend and my classmate at Washington High School. I have to believe that God was by her side to take her in his arms and carry her of to heaven. She dedicated her life to Christ and has been rewarded. C.J. Turco Fortuna Ca It was a shock to get the news of her condition and death. I cherish the lovely art piece she gave me - she was so cheerful and generous with her art. Even her letters were artistic and beautiful. Sr. Anita Valdez I knew Sr. Kathleen as a sister advocate in projects of the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center. We will miss her and we extend our empathy to her family and the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery. Sr. Mary Lou Geraets pbvm I loved being in S. Kathleen's Calligraphy class at Mount Marty - my favorite thing I ever painted was a watercolor heart in her class. I still think about being in that class very often. I remember a special story about a Monarch butterfly too. Kara Goetz Roubideaux Glendale AZ

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