Catherine V Piper

Catherine (Cathy) Piper died March 24th, 2017, at her home at Pioneer Point in Fergus Falls.
Cathy was born on April 28th, 1927, to Mildred E. (Evenson) and Leo. J. Harles in Friberg Township. She attended country school In Friberg Township. She received her G.E.D. in Denver, Colorado, years later.

On November 28th, 1953, Cathy married Blaine A. Piper in Norfolk, Virginia, where Blaine was stationed in the U.S. Navy. The couple made their home in Denver, Colorado, where they had a son, Timothy born on March 23rd, 1958.

Cathy began her working career as a waitress. After marrying she began working for larger businesses in Denver including Coppers Company doing clerking, bookkeeping, and payroll. After leaving Denver, Cathy and her family settled in Fergus Falls in 1967. She worked for Otter Tail County briefly, and then Otter Tail Power Company from February 1968 until resigning in March of 1978 to start her own business, Piper Group Home and later Piper Health Care. It was in these businesses that she found her stride and did her best work. She was rewarded with relationships that outlasted the ownership of the business.

After retiring she made her home with her husband Blaine on Long Lake north of Fergus Falls. She enjoyed planting flowers, talking with her neighbors, and spending time with her dogs Tootsie, Penny, Susie, and Cocoa. After Blaine's passing she moved into Fergus Falls, where she occupied her time with volunteer driving, weekday coffee with friends, and Sunday dinners with friends and family.

Cathy is survived by her son Tim (Denise Mauer) Piper; her brother-in-law Dale (Geraldine “Jerri”) Piper and sisters-in-law Virginia (Gene) Lenhart, Inez Harles, and Joyce Harles and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cathy was preceded in death by her husband, Blaine, her parents, Leo and Mildred, four brothers Gordon, Donald, David, and Leo “Bud”, and her brothers-in-law Glen Piper, and Wayne “Red” Piper.

Memorials are preferred to Fergus Falls Food Shelf, Habitat for Humanity or any similar organization of the donor’s choice.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 31, 2017 with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Fathers Alan Wielinski, Bill Gamber and Deacon Chuck Kampa
Burial: St. Elizabeth Catholic Cemetery, Elizabeth, MN
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls.