Kathryn Lucille O'Donnell Damberger, 92, of Spearfish, passed away on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at her daughter's home in Gillette, WY.

Kathryn was born on March 8, 1918 to Leo and Julia (Clark) O'Donnell, at her parent's home in Corson County, Morristown, SD. She was baptized, received First Communion and confirmed all at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morristown. She attended rural school in the area and graduated from Morristown High School.

Kathryn chose a career in Education and pursued that career earning both her Bachelors and Masters of Science Degree in Education and was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa sorority. She spent forty years educating children in public, parochial and preschool in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. Her career spanned from teaching all grades in a one-room country school to a building principal in the Belle Fourche School District to co-owner of Gillette Preschool in Gillette, WY.
She married Joseph P. Damberger May 24, 1945 in Miles City, Montana at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church since 1967 and chaired the Alter Society, taught religious education and was a sponsor in the Catholic RCIA program. She belonged to several other organizations, however she had to withdraw from them due to ill health.

Kathryn and Joseph raised a family of seven children, which included three daughters Marlys (William) Leinen-Fargo, ND, Mary (Jeffrey) Campbell-Fargo, ND, Colleen (Charles) Pool-Gillette, WY and four sons Donald (Patricia) Damberger-Savage, MN, Roger Damberger-deceased, Robert Damberger-Minneapolis, MN and Myron Damberger-Annandale; 16 grandchildren Sherry Damberger (Jim) Crocco, Lori Damberger (Doug) Berg, Donald (Erin) Damberger, Michael Damberger, Joseph (Patricia) Damberger, Patrick (Monica) Leinen, Karen Leinen (Thomas) Deere, Roger (Melissa) Campbell, David (Shannon) Campbell, Shawn Damberger, Stefanee Damberger (Darrell) Prawalsky, Katie Damberger (Chris) Schoenberger, David Damberger, Jason (Nichole) Pool, Jessica Pool (Duane) Terry, Janelle Pool (Robert) Pfeil; and 33 great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by two sisters, Grace Tomac, Lemmon SD and Leola (Joseph) Buche, St. Paul, MN and one brother Lloyd B. O'Donnell Morristown, SD, mother's of her grandchildren Regina Damberger, Casper, WY and Nancy Tallent, Spearfish, SD, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Damberger, her son Roger Damberger, daughter-in-law Carleen Damberger, her parents Julia and Leo O'Donnell, and three brothers, Robert, James and Leo E.

Visitation will be from 2-5 P.M., Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Vigil services will be held at 7:00 P.M.on Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Tim Hoag as Celebrant. Burial will take place at 2:00 P.M. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to benefit the Clothe-A-Kid campaign.