Katherine Elizabeth Raaum

Katherine Elizabeth Raaum (82), died peacefully on May 19,2023, at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene ID., with her family by her side. Katherine (Kay) was born on May 15, 1941 to Phillip and Alice Rassier, in Williston North Dakota and raised in Grenora North Dakota.

Kay was the sixth of ten siblings, five boys and five girls (Phillis, Arlene, Andrew, Eldora, Mary, Kathrine, David, Wallace, Jerald, and Robert).

Kay married Robert Raaum on November 26, 1960, in Hanks North Dakota. Robert and Kay farmed in North Dakota until they moved to Kellogg Idaho in 1965 where Robert worked at the Bunker Hill Mine until 1967. Robert and Kay then moved their family to Prosser Washington and then onto Walla Walla Washington in 1968.

In 1970, Robert and Kay moved their family to Bonners Ferry Idaho, where Robert worked for Ralph Echart and eventually Con and Dee Tucker on the KV Ranch. In 1976, Robert and Kay began farming on their own in District 6. In 1982, they moved to their final residence in Copeland Idaho, where they raised grain, cattle and hay.

On top of raising six children and working on their farm, Kay also worked at Tucker Farms during the potato season for several years. She also worked at the ECF wing at Boundary Community Hospital as a CNA for many years. In Kay’s younger years, she also worked at the Community Hospital in Crosby North Dakota.

Family was always at the center of Kay’s life. She very much loved her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren and her extended family. Kay always expressed great love to the large family that she and Robert have created.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Robert, her parents Phillip and Alice Rassier, brother Robert Rassier, sisters Phillis Hoffman and Arlene Batina and grandson Jake Limeburg.  She is survived by her children, Douglas Raaum of Annapolis, MD., Roberta (Guy) Hatley of Big Timber, MT., Duane (Teresa) Raaum of Bonners Ferry, ID., Dennis (Mendy) Raaum of Bonners Ferry, ID., Lonnie (Diane) Raaum of Post Falls, ID., Kimberly (Dan) Williams of Bonners Ferry, ID., 18 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren with more on the way.

A Rosary will be held Thursday, May 25th, at the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am, May 26th, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with burial to follow at Grandview Cemetery.