Kathern Louise Applegate

Kathern Louise Applegate, 72, of Plainville, Kansas, passed away on September 26, 2026, at her home. She was born on October 25, 1953, in Omak, Washington, to Calvin Harold and Phyllis Lenore (Cline) Farwell.

Kathern married Earl Hankins on January 2, 1971, and they later divorced. She later married Jim Applegate in Norton, Kansas, and they also later divorced.

Those who knew Kathern will remember her contagious smile that could light up a room and a laugh that had a way of making everyone around her laugh, too. She was hardworking, loved learning new things, and valued her independence. She was a warrior who faced many battles throughout her life, always finding a way to stand tall and keep moving forward.

Kathern worked as a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) at Whispering Pines in Norton and also managed The Commons, an apartment building in Norton. While living in Juneau, Alaska, she worked cleaning homes and businesses. She also enjoyed helping with travel.

Kathern was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also attended the Baptist Church in Plainville. Her faith was everything to her and was a source of strength that carried her through difficult times, especially while raising her girls. Visiting Latter-day Saint temples brought her tremendous joy and peace. She was always excited to make those trips with her church friends and family and loved coming home to tell her daughters all about them.

Kathern leaves behind a legacy rooted deeply in the beauty of the natural world. A true lover of the outdoors, she found her greatest joy wherever the air was fresh and the landscape was wild. Whether hiking and exploring the beaches of Alaska or taking in the vast skies of Montana, she lived to experience the beauty of everything around her. The mountains held a particularly special place in her heart, and she often wished she could return to live among them again.

She possessed a deep appreciation for different cultures, finding particular inspiration in Native American traditions, Indian culture, and the spirit of the wolf. Kathern had a lifelong passion for horses, a love she shared with her children from the very beginning—holding her oldest daughter up on a horse before she was even a year old. She loved all of her animals dearly, and they were an important part of her life.

Kathern was also a gifted gardener who brought life to flowers and plants wherever she went. Her family will forever cherish the vibrant and unpredictable stories of her life in nature, from the unforgettable afternoon she went to hang laundry between her apple trees only to find baby bears looking down at her from the branches, to the playful jokes she loved to pull on her girls. She might hide in a closet just to jump out and scare them or toss clothes toward a daughter who was terrified of mice and announce that there was a mouse inside. The screams that followed became laughter, and those little moments grew into treasured family stories they would laugh about together for years. 

Kathern is survived by her daughters, Amy (Michael) Barfield of St. Francis, Kansas, Sandy (Andy) Nielsen of Almena, Kansas, and Cathy Ritchey of St. Francis; 12 grandchildren, Alan (Rachel) Percy, Taton Busby, Dominic Palmberg, Stacie Meyer, Jonathon (Audrie) Meyer, Nicholas Meyer, Mercedes (Ethan) Kinner, Kalin Ritchey, Tasha Ritchey, Saralyn Barfield, Skylar Barfield, and Kimber Barfield; and seven great-grandchildren, Evelynn, John, Harley, Kemper, Greyson, Oliver and Elijah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Phyllis Farwell; and her sister, Marilyn Lane.

Private family services will be held.

Memorials are suggested to Kathern Applegate Memorial Fund to help with funeral expenses and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.