Kathleen Elaine Carr, a long-time resident of Colfax, WA, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026. Kathy was born on July 19, 1949, in Valley City, ND to Simon & Vivian Bjerke.

The oldest of four children, she grew up on her family's dairy-turned-hog farm near Enderlin, ND. Her rural childhood included a one-room schoolhouse, swimming in sloughs with her brothers, and lots of time with her cousins, though the stories she shared the most about growing up were when her daddy would take her and her brothers fishing. Kathy graduated from Enderlin High School in 1967 and attended college at University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

In May of 1975, she married Dan Carr; they moved west with stops in Coeur d’Alene, Seattle, Spokane, La Grande, back to Grand Forks, Sioux Falls, Spokane and eventually settled in Colfax as proprietors of Carr’s Corner Kitchen and Corner Chevron. Though their marriage did not last, they maintained a relationship to raise their children. She dedicated most of her life to her daughters and supporting their interests, which meant a lot of dance recitals, 4H/Girl Scout activities, and dedicating every Tuesday and Thursday in July to swim meets (a tradition she was happy to revisit for her grandchildren). Kathy was a fan of all sports and while her one regret may have been not raising athletes, she did raise cheerleaders, which was almost as good. She supported the Colfax Bulldogs long after her girls graduated and attended countless WSU Cougar Football and Basketball games. But even her beloved Cougars could not hold a candle to her dedication to her grandchildren. She was always eager to spend time with them and made sure they had enough ice cream, knick-knacks and socks. Her Christmas brunch and Easter Egg hunts will be part of her legacy.

Kathy was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, where she served on numerous church committees and taught Sunday school. In addition to the County Corner, Kathy was employed at Wheat & Barley restaurant, Love n’ Learn childcare center, and retired from Empire Disposal and the Whitman County Library Colfax Branch in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

Kathy is survived by her daughters, Megan Brannan of Pullman, WA, and Mallory (Jason) Champoux of Selah, WA; grandchildren Simon (Katelyn), Owen, Etta and Hazel; siblings Myron (Grace) Bjerke of Aberdeen, SD, and Steve Bjerke of Milnor, ND; sister-in-law Lori Bjerke of Fargo, ND; and a host of extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Simon & Vivian Bjerke; brother, Dale Bjerke; infant son, Ryan Carr; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service for Kathy will be held on Friday, July 17 at 10:00 AM at Peace Lutheran Church, with a fellowship brunch to follow. In honor of Kathy’s lifelong love for the WSU Cougars, the family suggests attendees wear Cougar gear or crimson/gray to the service. For those interested in making a donation in Kathy’s memory, please consider Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax, or the Friends of the Whitman County Library.