She is survived by her son Doug and his wife Robin; her son Mitch and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Kay was born to James (Jim) and Thelma House as their second daughter. The House’s moved around a bit as Jim worked for various pharmacies in rural Nebraska for their first few years. Jim purchased House Drug in Nelson, Nebraska, when Kay was still young. They worked hard, and after buying out the other pharmacy in Nelson, they had a thriving business where it seemed that Jim and Thelma never stopped working.
Kay attended school in town. This is where she met the love of her life when a country school kid started attending high school in town.
Gary and Kay were quite the item, a cheerleader dating the high school quarterback.
After graduation, she headed off to college.
Coming home for the summer, Kay and Gary decided they could not wait to get married, so they eloped in August of 1955 to Paris, Idaho.
They stayed in Nelson for the next 3 years. Over that time, they welcomed their two boys to the family while running their family farm. Kay’s father approached Gary one evening and convinced him that he needed to finish college. They sold everything and moved to Lincoln, where they lived in a home Kay’s father bought, next to campus, with their two boys and two additional college students who rented rooms. Kay worked nights in downtown Lincoln while Gary watched the boys. Gary would head to the dairy barn on campus to milk the cows after Kay got home, then off to study and class until milking again in the afternoon. Then rinse and repeat for the next three years.
Graduation brought their 4th move to Lexington, Nebraska, but only for one year. Teaching wasn’t Gary’s cup of tea. So move 5 had them headed back to Lincoln and a position for Gary with the Great Plains Wheat Commission.
The next move was to Kansas City with Gary’s appointment as the president of the Wheat Commission. This move was in preparation for a move to Brazil, but inflation put a stop to that adventure. Kay at that time was the first computer key punch operator for what was to become Sprint Telephone and Telegraph.
The university came calling, and Gary accepted a position working with international students on the Ag campus. Kay continued to support and follow Gary while finding meaningful work wherever they landed.
After a year, the university tapped Gary for a move to Bogotá, Colombia, in 1967. Off they went, two thirty-one-year-old parents with 2 boys on their next adventure. This was a great experience for all. The next four and a half years, they got to experience new cultures, people, and many different walks of life. Kay took a job at the school as an executive assistant. The school was from kindergarten to grade 13 in accordance with Colombian laws. Their next move was back to Lincoln to close out the program, then a move to Geneva, Nebraska, where Gary took a job as the county extension agent, and Kay found a job working with an attorney.
The next 40 plus years saw many changes for Kay. She was hired at Geneva State Bank and worked her way up to a Vice President position overseeing the computerization of the bank. She was the first woman executive of the bank. She attended and graduated from multiple Colorado school of banking programs, some spanning three plus years of study. She sat on the board of the bank in Fairmont and was deeply involved with the church. She was a leader in the Republican Party of Fillmore County.
Retirement brought time to enjoy friends, organ concerts, and chasing her grandchildren at all of their various activities and events.
Move 16 and 17 brought her back to Lincoln, where she could be closer to the things she loved to do and the various doctors she needed to see to address the arthritis that was slowly taking its toll. Move 18 had her leaving the Legacy assisted care apartments to Sumner Place Nursing Home after a scare that landed her in the hospital for two weeks.
Kay was the adventurous one, always looking to find something new to share. Wanting her family to know the wonders of music, art, and what this world had to offer. Her love of family and life will be missed.
Memorial service: 10:00 am Saturday, November 14, 2026, Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O Street.
Memorials to Geneva Public Library, 1043 G Street, Geneva, Nebraska 68361.