Kathern S. Gallegos

Kak

1940-2023

Kathern passed away at home surrounded by her family on November 26, 2023 in Ogden. She was born in Del Norte, Colorado to Vicente Ben Martinez and Andrea Vigil. She moved to Utah at the age of four. Her parents raised 16 children altogether.

Kathern married Jake N. Gallegos on May 9, 1959 and together they had two sons. Kathern was educated in Davis and Weber counties and retired from IRS in 2001 after 27 years. Kathern experience tragedy early in her marriage and was left to raise her sons as a single parent. Kathern had a lot of support from her family during these tough years. As a mother, she was so protective of her boys. They were her world and she would do anything for them. Kathern and her sisters enjoyed taking the grand kids on adventures to Disney on Ice, Hogle Zoo, Thanksgiving point, Children's Museum, Dinosaur Park, Liberty Park in SLC. The kids loved to go swimming but none of them ever wanted to get out of the pool to eat lunch because she had a strict rule that you were not allowed back in the pool until 15 minutes after you ate and sometimes nephews & nieces would tag along. All the kids knew that you better behave or to the bathroom you'd go for a little lecture. If you slept over her house on a Friday night, the kids knew that they would be hanging out at the laundromat on Saturday mornings. Kathern liked to shoot pool, traveling to Wendover to gamble, loved to hang out with and care for her family and siblings and loved the game of LRC. Kathern was an avid reader, loved to play games, crossword puzzles, loved to go to the plays in SLC, Ogden, Washington Terrace and Perry. If you couldn't find Kathern at home, she would be visiting her siblings or shopping at her favorite stores Dillard's and JC Penney. Kathern's family always looked forward to our Christmas Eve Party where we would play goofy games, eat delicious food and she always made her famous bean dip. We will all miss her good food and her silly side. We giggle when we'd hear her call her lunch a sangwhich. Kathern and her sister Maria used to sew their own clothes. Kathern also liked to crochet blankets. And her famous tin where she kept those curlers. She had no problem going to the store, or visiting family in her curlers. She would sometimes ask her boys to take her to the store. If she was in her curlers when they came to pick her up, they would just ask her to give them the money and they'd go do it themselves. Mike even had her drop him off 1-2 blocks away from school if she was wearing curlers when he was younger. As a sister, she had a very close and special relationship with all of her siblings. She and her sister Josephine lived together and were each other's biggest supporters and confidants.

Kathern is survived by her sons Robert (Jodie) Gallegos, Mike (Valerie) Gallegos.

Grandchildren – Justin (Debbie) Wahlstrom, Melanie (Roman) Chase, Vanessa Gallegos (Mike Montano), Angela Gallegos (Matthew Lanzarotta), Veronica Gallegos, Michael Gallegos (Alyssa Trujillo).

Great grandchildren – Tyli (David) Mohler, Tavin Wahlstrom, Bailey Chase, Hunter Chase, Aneisa Montano (Angel Flores), Aaryana Montano, Lorenzo Montano, Jake Gallegos, Anthony Chavez, Dezirae Garcia.

Great-great grandchildren – Mara Jade Mohler, Angel Flores and baby Ozzy Shupe (deceased).

Sisters – Inez Cota, Rosie (Donna) Martinez, Josephine Martinez.

Brothers – Archie (Rosie) Martinez, Poncho (Virginia) Martinez.

Sister's and brother in law- Charlotte Almanza, Becky Martinez, Dennis Martinez.

Kathern also had many nieces and nephews.

Kathern was preceded in death by her husband Jake N. Gallegos, her parents Ben and Andrea Martinez, sisters – Betty Gallegos, Dorothy Sosa, Jenny Montoya, Martha Quintana, Susie Herrera, Maria DelRio Garcia. Brothers – Benny Martinez, Felix Martinez, Richard Martinez, Val Martinez

All services will be held Thursday, December 7th at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 514 24th Street, Ogden.

Visitation – 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m.

Burial at Ogden City Cemetery

Potluck lunch from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at VFW Post 1481, 907 W 12th Street, Ogden