Catharine (Cathy) Whitehead, 91, died peacefully on Tues. April 24th at the United Living Community in Brookings, South Dakota. Visitation will be on Tues. May 1, 2018, from 5-7 P.M. at Eidsness Funeral Home.  A memorial service will be held on Wed. May 2, 2018, at 11am at the Eidsness Funeral Home with the Rev. Dorthy Tufte officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Catharine Mary Hendrick was born in Milbank, South Dakota on September 15th, 1926 to Dr. Lewis C. and Mary (Patridge) Hendrick. She attended school in Milbank, graduating from Milbank High School. She continued her education at Iowa State University in Ames, IA, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1948.

Following college graduation, Cathy became a research assistant in Station Biochemistry at South Dakota State University. While working at SDSU, she met and fell in love with a young biochemist – Gene Whitehead. Cathy and Gene were united in marriage on June 18th 1955. Their nearly 56 years of marriage were lived in Brookings with the exception of 10 years in Boulder Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In 1959, Cathy and Gene added their daughter, Lisbeth Jean and Scott Carlton in 1961 and eventually son-in-law Roger, daughter in law Vicki and two grand- daughters, Amber and Nichole. In her later years, Cathy enjoyed her "adopted" great-grandchildren, Wynley, Hollyn, Leyna, and Oryn Rausch of Brookings.

Cathy was a life-long member of the First United Methodist church, serving as church organist for 25 years. She also played for numerous funerals for the Eidsness Funeral home. Cathy was a member of PEO Chapter P, Music Club, and the organist guild.

Cathy enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was truly an inspiration to all who met her. She also enjoyed attending music and theatre performances at SDSU, quilting and cross-stitch. She and Gene enjoyed travelling to Europe. In June 2005, they celebrated their 50th anniversary in London with their daughter and son-in-law.

Blessed to have had her in our lives are her daughter Lisbeth (Roger) Solum of Watertown, son Scott (Vicki) Whitehead and their daughters Amber and Nichole of Brookings; her little sister, Carol Hendrick of NYC and brother Russell (Lorry) Hendrick of Minneapolis, MN; numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; her parents L.C. and Mary Hendrick and in-laws, Irving and May Whitehead; nephew James L. Hendrick of North Carolina; brother and sisters in law Blaine, Mary/Wanda Whitehead; Don and Virigina Hilmoe.