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* Please note, we are celebrating Kathy's life on Saturday, please wear something colorful and bright.
Kathy loved her accent scarves. They will be on display at the visitation on Saturday and free to take as a keepsake memory of Kathy.

Kathy A. Blesener, 65, of Cottage Grove died peacefully on August 7, 2018 at home in the presence of her husband Paul, daughter Kaitlyn, and son Ross. Kathy had a brief, intense battle with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Kathy Ann Ostby was born on August 26,1952 to Elmer and Marie Ostby in South St. Paul. Kathy attended local schools and graduated from SSP high school in 1970. After graduation Kathy began her long career at West Publishing Company (later Thomson Reuters) in St. Paul. Kathy worked as a senior editor of Westlaw and as a court liaison, garnering numerous accolades, before retiring after 42 years in 2013.

Kathy was united in marriage to Paul Blesener on October 26, 1985 at Luther Memorial Church. They lived in St. Paul until moving to Cottage Grove in 1990.

Kathy was a faithful, lifelong, active and contributing member of Luther Memorial Church. She was a member of several boards, taught Sunday school and youth choir, sang in church choirs and was well known for her stirring rendition of "O Holy Night", a Christmas eve tradition at LMC for decades.

Kathy was an incredible wife, mother, and friend. To have Kathy in your life meant that you had a true supporter, comforter, and kindhearted friend with you at all times. Children gravitated to her open, patient, generous and trusting persona. She took a genuine interest in all she met and remembered scores of friends and relatives with personalized greetings on birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and important events. She projected a cheerful, positive aura and truly lived her life by the Golden Rule. Her passing leaves a void in the lives of all who knew her.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Marie Ostby, her sister Susan and her husband Jerry Banaszewski, her mother-in-law Mildred Blesener, and several uncles and aunts.

Kathy is lovingly remembered by her husband Paul, daughter Kaitlyn (Jay) Melson of West Salem, WI., son Ross of Roseville, MN; and grandchildren Hailey, Macie, and James Nolan. Kathy is survived by brother Lon (Nell) of Wilmington, NC, sisters Linda (Bruce) Featherstone of Hastings, MN, Kristy (Jeff) Oberpriller of South St. Paul, and Jodi (Emre) Mezaros of Woodbury, MN, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her uncle Soren Ostby of Spearfish, SD and aunt Lucille Sanford of South St. Paul MN, and many cousins.

Also survived by brother-in-law Charlie (Kathleen) Blesener of Elk River, MN, sister-in-law Rose Blesener and husband Bill Daly of St. Cloud, MN, and sisters-in-law Joanne (Tom) McCabe of Madelia, MN., and Anita (John) Shikoski of New UIm, MN. and several additional nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service 11:00 a.m. Saturday at LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH 315 15th Ave No South St. Paul. Visitation 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Interment Cottage Grove Cemetery

Kathy supported 16 charitable organizations. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family for distribution to the various organizations.