S. Kathleen Hickenbotham OSB, 72, died Monday, December 12, 2011 at Sacred Heart Monastery following a brief illness.

   Kathleen Mary Hickenbotham was born on April 13, 1939 in Worthington, MN to Melvin Doyle and Ethel Caroline (Page) Hickenbotham.  She was the oldest daughter in a family of six girls and one boy.  She spent several years of her early childhood in La Crescent, MN.  The family later moved to Waterloo, IA and then to Sioux Falls, SD when she was fifteen. She graduated from Washington High School in 1957 and entered Sacred Heart Monastery in August of that year.

    She was invested as a novice in 1958 and received the name Sharon which she later changed back to her baptismal name of Kathleen.  She made first profession on June 29, 1959 and final profession in 1962.  Her ministry included elementary education in Pueblo, CO, Lincoln, NE, Ipswich and Yankton, SD.  She earned a BA degree from Mount Marty College and BA degree in fine art from Southern Colorado State University. After earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Oregon, she taught art at Mount Marty College followed by full-time work at the monastery as resident artist in the areas of calligraphy, watercolor and ceramics. In 1986 she received a Bush grant for a 6-week cultural history tour in Europe studying famous artwork and architecture.

   S. Kathleen served for almost 30 years in leadership of the Yahweh-Shalom Prayer Group in Yankton.  She was also very active in the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center, Reach for Recovery, Connecting Artists, and the American Benedictine Academy serving in leadership positions in these organizations.

  S. Kathleen was a gentle woman of deep faith and prayer, a gifted artist with a love of nature and beauty, and a welcoming smile to all she met.

   She is survived by her Benedictine community; five sisters: Jean (Ranzie) Zandt, Rosemary (Loren) Mose, Cynthia (Duane) Beck all of Sioux Falls, SD; Judith (David) Stroh, Luverne, MN; and Ruth (Rev. John) Lundin, St. Peter’s, MO; sister-in-law: Donna Hickenbotham, Armour, SD  as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Raoul.

   A wake service was held on Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30 pm, and the Funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday, December 15  at 10:30 am in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.  Wintz & Ray Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

                                    Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her O Lord,

                                 and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her.

                                                 May She Rest in Peace.