Kathryn K. Gudajtes

Kathryn Kay Gudajtes, 73, passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at Altru Hospital surrounded by her family.

Kathryn was born August 28, 1947, in Grafton, the fourth child of Edwin and Bessie (Kovarik) Kosobud.  She attended grade school in a one room schoolhouse near Lankin and graduated from Grafton High in 1965.

Kathryn married James Gudajtes in 1968.  They lived in Minto until building their home in 1978 on the farm east of Warsaw.  There, they raised their 3 children.  Kathy had a work ethic like no other.  She did the farm yardwork, flower beds and had the largest garden in Walsh County.  She canned her vegetables, tended to her apple trees and loved having children pick pumpkins in their pumpkin patch.  She instilled a work ethic into her children by having them work on the farm, teaching them valuable life lessons.

Kathy started working off the farm in the late 80s as a waitress at Smoky’s in Ardoch.  She loved the business so much she talked Jim into buying the Minto Café for her, which she owned and operated for the better part of 24 years.  In between Minto Café stints, she owned a craft store in Grafton, worked at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, managed the Café in Oslo and reopened the Gudajtes Store in Minto before going back to owning the Minto Café.  She completed her working years baking for the community.  Kathy will be remembered for her passion of baking and cooking.  Her kolaches, fried donuts, pies, cookies, muffins, pies, bars and world famous caramel rolls will be missed by all.  She loved cooking for others and her real reward were the smiles and compliments she received from her customers.

Kathy was a member of the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, serving on the Altar Society.  She was a member of the Minto Legion Auxiliary and the Polish National Alliance, Warsaw Lodge 3043. She was the PNA Youth dancer instructor for many years teaching the polka, waltz and schottische. 

Kathy is survived by her children, Lisa Gudajtes (Donald Tibert) of Minto, Kimberly (Anthony) Miller of Grand Forks and Anton (Vicky) Gudajtes of Warsaw; her grandchildren Samantha (Dylan Slominski), Cody Ulness, Maxwell, Grace, Julia and Jack Miller, Kaylin, Karley, Kasey and Krystian Gudajtes; great grandchildren Harper and James Slominski; brothers Richard (Caprice) of Lucerne Valley, CA,  Joe (Nancy) Kosobud  of Apple Valley, Michael Kosobud of Moorhead, MN, Tom (Dory) Kosobud of Minto and sister Susan Kosobud of Minto. She was preceded in death by her husband, James and her brother, Charles Kosobud.

Mass of a Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am, Monday, June 28, 2021, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Warsaw.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 am Monday at the church and will continue until the time of Mass.  Burial will follow at the St. Stanislaus Cemetery. 

In Lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the St. Gianna’s Maternity Home or the Minto Area Youth Sports Foundation (MAYS).