Katherine MacDonald Bade, age 91, of Chaska, Minn., died Oct. 10, 2014.

Katie was born in the middle of a blizzard in Gering, Neb., April 22, 1923 to Roderick and Frances Lawrence MacDonald, one of three children. Katie grew up in Chaska and graduated from Chaska High School before receiving her bachelors of art degree in physical education from St. Olaf College. Immediately after graduation, she became an instructor in the physical education department at St. Olaf. She was proud to be an Ole and would return to “The Hill” to attend the St. Olaf Christmas concerts every December.

A member of the Moravian church since confirmation, Katie made the headlines when she became the first woman to be elected to the governing board of the Western District of the Moravian Church. Katie participated in the Evening Circle, Mission Circle, Ladies Aid, Helping Hands, Women’s Fellowship, Meals on Wheels – you name it, she did it – and she was a lifelong member of the church choir. Her work with the women’s church groups led her to Church Women United, where she was president and received the Valiant Woman Award. She also was an active member in the Minnesota School of Missions. One of her latest honors came in 2009, when she was inducted into the Chaska High School Hall of Fame.

Katie loved competitive sports and was the first student to defeat the tennis coach at St. Olaf. In addition to tennis, bridge, golf, field hockey, basketball, football, the Chaska Cubs were among her passions. Put a cane pole in her hand and she would go fishing any day. Katie also was proud to be a member of the League of Women Voters Eastern Carver County.

On June 11, 1948 she married Douglas Bade at the Chaska Moravian Church. They had met at church camp and knew each other while working at the canning factory in town. They raised four children on what was known as Lewin’s Lane. She loved to mow the lawn and sod field, and picked cucumbers tirelessly in the pickle patch with the summer crew of her children, neighborhood children, and their friends.

She was quoted as saying, “I believe in the basic goodness of humankind. I believe God created us to enjoy life and live it to the hilt.” And live it she did.

Katie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Douglas, and daughters, Rebecca Bade Lane ’74 and Liz Rosca.

Survivors include her children, Meg Peitersen and husband Larry, and James Bade and wife Stephanie; sons-in-law, Andy Lane and John Rosca; grandchildren, John Peitersen ’97 and wife Katherine Hanton Peitersen ’97, Nathan Peitersen ’99 and wife Rebecca Jeurissen Peitersen ’99, Rachel, Tony and wife Ona, Natalie, Greg, Stephanie, Sam, and Lily; great-grandchildren, Simon, Keira, Henry, Liam, and Carter; sister, Mary Ann Huelster and husband Howard; brother, Roderick MacDonald and wife Joanne; and beloved nieces and nephews.

Memorials preferred to Chaska Moravian Church.