Cathie grew up in the northern Black Hills, graduated from Colorado State at Greeley and taught in the Rapid City Schools for a few years.

In the spring of 2000, Cathie was asked to help resurrect the front floral circle at the entrance of the Journey Museum. Thanks to her driving force, the exterior of the Journey has become a showplace through her efforts in landscaping and horticulture, creating the semblance of botanical gardens. As a Master Gardener, she began her vision with three other Master Gardeners and this was the beginning of a work program by more than 100 volunteers with their own wheelbarrows, hand tools, gloves - working from dawn to dusk...a few hours at a time. The volunteers, under Cathie's guidance, have worked the soil, pulled weeds, planted and trimmed the plant material as a labor of love.

In looking at the Journey's volunteer gardening log, Cathie has personally logged 248 hours in 2000, 544 hours in 2001 and 519 hours in 2002 for a total volunteer commitment of 1312 hours. The volunteers are credited with over 2888 hours in the past three years to improve the landscaping at the Journey.

Lee Anthony and Brenda Pates who nominated Cathie credit her and her "can do" attitude in transforming the Journey exterior into a place that the citizens of Rapid City can be proud of and want to promote.

Cathie is married to LeRoy and has traveled extensively with his career as a geological engineer. She has three grown children and six grandchildren. Cathie is also a master knitter and has won several awards for her work. She donates hats and booties for the premature babies at Rapid City Regional Hospital and continually encourages others to do the same.