Kathleen May Bradetich, 94

Kathy Bradetich (94) passed away Oct. 24, 2023, in Coeur d’Alene. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Coffelt Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint. Kathy was born Dec. 27, 1928, in Sandpoint, Idaho. She was the first child of Clifford and Marie Tucker. As a logger’s daughter, she spent many of her early years in various logging camps in North Idaho where Clifford worked as a sawyer and Marie helped cook for the logging crews. Her parents eventually started a dairy business, and she grew up through her school years working on their family farm near Colburn. She learned how to handle a team of draft horses, and later on a farm tractor, with equal skill. She attended Center Valley Grade School and graduated from the old Sandpoint High School on Euclid Avenue. 

After graduation, Kathy attended beautician school in Sandpoint and worked at various jobs to make a living. In 1949, some friends introduced her to a young man freshly home from service in the Navy, Phil Bradetich. After a short courtship, she and Phil were married July 2, 1949. The year 1950 saw their family grow with their first child, a daughter they named Sheryl. In 1958, they added a son, Douglas. With the family growing they decided to move from their small house on Huron Street in Sandpoint to a new home they would build north of town on Kootenai Cutoff Road. In the midst of where Wal-Mart and North 40 are today, this was “way out in the country” in 1966, with more hayfields than people. Kathy worked right alongside Phil throughout the entire project. She found she was as good with a hammer as she had been with a tractor. She always had a love of gardening, and their yard on Kootenai Cutoff was a showplace of different types of flowers and shrubs. She took great pride in making sure everything was just right around the home.

Throughout most of the years, her children were in school, and Kathy stayed busy at home. After the kids had grown though, she looked for something to do and took a job working for Berg Schmidt at the Mode-O-Day clothing store in Sandpoint. Little did she know how this part-time job would work out for her. Berg was close to retirement at that time and asked Kathy if she would be interested in buying the business. Kathy agreed and, in 1979, she and Phil became downtown business owners. Kathy loved the store and became a regular downtown stop for many friends and soon-to-be friends for many years. She operated the Mode-O-Day business through a successful transition to Fashion Crossroads and continued to retirement.  

After retirement in 1989, Phil and Kathy moved to Cd'A and traveled extensively with friends and family. Winters in Arizona, as well as trips to Alaska and other destinations, kept them busy for many years. In July 2019, they marked their 70th anniversary with a family gathering at their home in Cd'A. They were together until Phil’s death in August 2019. 

Her family and friends were of the greatest importance to her, and she will be missed by many. She is survived by her daughter, Sherry (Bob) Meyers, Cd'A; her son, Doug (Mindi) Bradetich, Sagle; granddaughters Stacey Bradetich, San Francisco; Amy (Paul) Gunter, Sagle; Erin (Tanner) Roos, Sandpoint; and great-grandchildren Lyla Jo Gunter, Silas Gunter and Reagan Roos. Her fourth great-grandchild is due November 2023. In addition, she is also survived by her sister Shirley Hruza, Wickenburg, Ariz.; brother-in-law Joe Bradetich, Sagle; and many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Phil, her grandson Scott Meyers, and brothers Dr. Donald Tucker and Jerry Tucker.  

The family acknowledges a special thank you to Auburn Crest Hospice and all of their amazing caregivers as well as a much-deserved thank you to The Lodge at Fairway for their loving care of our mother.

Family and friends are invited to sign Kathy’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.