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Kathleen Louise (Riggs) Seward, 67

Kathleen Louise (Riggs) Seward, 67, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller House, where she received amazing and loving care.

Kathleen was born Oct. 16, 1951, to Frank M. and Joanne G. (Sande) Riggs in Coeur d’Alene. She lived her entire life in the Coeur d’Alene area, with the last 36 years living in Dalton Gardens.

Kathy graduated from Coeur d’Alene Senior High in 1969. She then attended North Idaho College to study art. She also attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle.

Kathy worked in many areas during her life — her first job being at The Wagon Wheel Drive-in. She then worked for Harts and Klotz Drug Stores, Boise Cascade, Century 21 Town & Country Realty, and Troutman’s Emporium. Kathy also owned Aspen Kennels in Hayden, and later ended her working career with the State of Idaho, retiring in 2009.

Along with her son, Bert, Kathy was very involved with the Coeur d’Alene Eagles team of the Special Olympics Idaho for many years. Together they traveled to regional, state and national events. During this time they developed a deep, long-lasting friendship with Pam Ferguson and Eric Teall.

In her leisure time Kathy enjoyed traveling, camping, growing flowers, collecting things and TV cooking shows. Kathy also helped to maintain the long-held Norwegian family tradition of preparing lutefisk every Christmas Eve, a fish dish enjoyed by only a few, but truly loved by Kathy.

Kathy was preceded in death by her son, Bertrand Wayne Seward, in 2016 and her parents, Frank and Joanne Riggs, in 1996, as well as numerous aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her sister, Sandee Riggs; brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Sandy Riggs; brother and sister-in-law, Jack Riggs and Sandy Patano Riggs; nieces and nephews, Tracie (Riggs) Riekena, Brandy (Riggs) Reinhardy, Aaron Riggs, Shannon (Riggs) Erwin, Peter Riggs, Jennifer (Riggs) Drake and Jordy Patano (along with their respective families), all of the Coeur d’Alene area; and her favorite and only maternal aunt and uncle Tom and Lolita (Sande) Casto of Spokane.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. Fifth St., followed by a wake.

English Funeral Chapel of Coeur d’Alene is handling the arrangements. Please sign her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.