RAPID CITY - Catherine Rita Allard, 97, was born October 8, 1921 in Atkinson, Nebraska. She passed away into the loving arms of Our Lord on November 25, 2018 at Freedom Home Assisted Living in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Catherine was the daughter of Patrick and Eva Kilmurry and was raised on a ranch near Atkinson, Nebraska, where she received her education. She often recounted her childhood days of playing baseball at school and challenging the boys to foot races.

Catherine married Vincent Allard on March 10, 1944 while Vince was on leave from the Navy during WWII. They enjoyed sixty years of marriage prior to Vince's death in 2004.

She worked in a secretarial pool for the FBI in Washington, DC during the war.  After WWII, Catherine and Vince returned to Nebraska for a short period before moving to Rapid City, South Dakota where they raised their four children, Patty, Carol, Anita, and Steve. In 1965, Catherine began her career in the bookkeeping department at the JC Penney store in Rapid City where she worked until retiring in 1983. She enjoyed volunteering at her church, sewing, baking, and babysitting her grandchildren. She always took great pride in the large number of great-grandchildren she had.

Following Vince's death, Catherine moved to Colorado Springs in 2007 to live with her oldest daughter and son-in-law, Patty and Ray Van Horn where she continued to reside until moving into the Freedom Home Assisted Living facility in February, 2018.

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband Vincent, daughter Anita Miller, and grandson Raymond Van Horn. She is survived by her daughter Patty and Ray Van Horn, Colorado Springs, Colorado, daughter Carol and Gary Trainer, Hartsel, Colorado, son-in-law Ron Miller, Rapid City, South Dakota, son Steve and Nancy Allard, Hartford, South Dakota; 15 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, November 30, with family present at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:00 pm.

Christian Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 1 at the Church of St. Therese, the Little Flower with Rev. Kerry Prendiville as Celebrant.

Interment will follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City, South Dakota.