Kay Marie (Leininger) Gylten died in her home March 28, 2023. Kay was born to Kenneth and Hazel (Rood) Leininger, May 9, 1946, at St. Lukes Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.  She was baptized on June 16, 1946 at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Binford, North Dakota, and was confirmed as a believer at the same church as a teenager.

Kay grew up on the family farm near Binford and attended country school until 5th grade when she became a student at Binford Public School and graduated high school in 1964.  Kay received a four year degree in math and physical education from Mayville State College in 1968 and began teaching in Wahpeton, North Dakota.

On June 20, 1969, Kay married Thomas Gylten at Zion Lutheran Church.  Following their marriage they moved to Watertown, Wisconsin, where Kay resumed her teaching at the Junior High level.  Kay & Tom's life continued there for seven years and during that time they were blessed with three sons: Daniel Thomas, Michael Kenneth, and James Elias Theodore.  In 1976 Kay and Tom moved back to Wahpeton and shortly after she began working at the MinnDak sugar beet plant where she worked as a chemical technician in the lab.  After 29 years she retired and she and Tom moved to Hill City, South Dakota, where her son Daniel and family lived.  Daniel built them a beautiful home in what became known to the grandkids and special neighbor kids as "Happy Valley" and have resided there since 2010.

Kay's retirement was all about being grandma!  She was intent on attending every athletic or life event no matter where it was taking place and was best known by everyone as "Grandma Kay" who wore the Green Bay Packers jacket.  Kay often remarked that when the four Rapid City grandchildren were all out of high school, she wanted to move to Wisconsin where she could watch her two youngest grandchildren do the same. Kay was also active in Zion Lutheran Church, Rapid City, and enjoyed being a substitute Sunday School teacher and helped with Vacation Bible School.

Kay was her grandchildren's biggest fan and had a heart full of love and joy for family, friends, their grandchildrens' teammates, and the community of Hill City. We find comfort in knowing she will continue to be watching all her grandkids from Heaven, cheering them on, taking stats, yelling at refs, wearing her Green Bay Packer jacket, counting cars, doing sudoku puzzles, and drinking Coke!

Kay is survived by her husband, Tom, Hill City, South Dakota; Son Daniel (Kristi), Rapid City, South Dakota; Son James (Heather), Merrill, Wisconsin, grandchildren Dru, Michael, Riley, and Buzzy Gylten, Rapid City, South Dakota; Jesse and Breanna Gylten, Merrill, Wisconsin. Also surviving are sisters Karen Alm, Fargo, ND, and Lynn (Quentin) Spitzer, Kensal, ND, and sister-in-law, Linda Leininger, Carrington, ND, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Kay was preceded in death by parents, Kenneth and Hazel Leininger; Son, Michael; Brother, John; and Brother-in-law, Rick Alm.

In honor of her life, Kay's funeral will be held on Monday, April 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD.  Prior to the service and also at Zion Lutheran, from 9:30am-10:30am, will be a visitation.  A committal is being planned for a later date at the Ostervold Lutheran Cemetery in Finley, ND.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zion Lutheran Church's Christ Way Capital Campaign or Ostervold Lutheran Cemetery, RR1, Finley, ND 58230.