Kathlyn Hodde Flaten

   Kathlyn Flaten passed away Nov 24th at a care facility in Eagle, Idaho in the loving arms of family.  Kathlyn, "Kathie" was born on a family farm near Golden City, Missouri to William and Coral Hodde.  Kathie's father passed away when she was six years old.  Her father's passing left her mother with six children and a large family farm.  The Great Depression took its toll, resulting in loss of the farm.  Kathie was the youngest of her siblings. Kathie began teaching school, as did her Mother, in Missouri. The two of them migrated to the Tri Cities in Washington, where they continued to teach school.  Kathie graduated from Western Washington College of Education, in Bellingham, and earned her Master’s in Elementary Education during the 1970’s, from Boise State University.  She was a career school teacher from the age of seventeen until she was in her sixties.

Kathie met Clifford T Flaten, a widower, at a parent teachers conference in 1948, a result of his daughter Margaret being in Kathyn Hodde’s classroom.  That young teacher loved Clifford's two young daughters, Margaret and Darlene Flaten, and their father Clifford. The two were married on the 24th of June, 1949, spending 51 years as husband and wife, until Clifford's passing in August of 2000. Kathie and Clifford had two sons, Robert and Donald Flaten, during the early 1950's.  

Kathie continued teaching school in Kennewick Washington until the fall of l961, when the family moved to Boise.  Kathie taught at Highlands Grade School, Collister, Taft, Monroe and Adams Elementary schools in Boise, until 1978.  Kathie and Clifford later spent their weekdays in Bruneau, Idaho and weekends in Boise, when Kathie took another teaching job in the Bruneau School District as an elementary educator.  Kathie spent many years as a teacher --  “her calling" for her entire life.  She dearly loved so many of her students and fellow teachers and staff; quite a number remembered her or remained close friends over the years.

Clifford and Kathlyn were long-time members of First Baptist Church in Boise, and later of Meridian Friends Church, when they moved to Meridian in the mid - 90’s.  So many of Kathie’s long-term friends are associated with those two congregations, and Kathie was committed to her Faith, and to living faithfully to her principals and vision.  For decades, Clifford and Kathie were also active members of the Idaho Fiddlers Association, where they developed and maintained wonderful friendships with association members.

Kathie spent her last years in the care and companionship of her son Bob, Don, and expanded family, including her dear grandson, Bobby (Robert Jr.).

Kathie is survived by her children: daughters Margaret Flaten (Pomeroy, Wa), Darlene Curtin (San Clemente, CA), sons Bob Flaten (Cascade, ID) and Don Flaten (Fairfield, CA), and many cherished nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.