Katie was born in Gale, SD on July 12, 1918.  At the age of two she moved with her parents to a farm west of Pollock, SD.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and attended the Vanderbilt school.  After her education, she worked with her sister Maggie Bauer (Cullum) who owned and operated the Pollock Bakery.  She was united in marriage to Burnie Van Der Vorste in 1941 and lived in Pollock where their three children, Roger; Linda and Ralph were born.  They lived in Herreid, SD for two years before moving to Custer, SD.  Katie was an active member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, the church guild and bible study classes.  She was a homemaker while her children were growing up.

Katie and Burnie managed the Sunset Motel in Custer from 1960-1973.  At age 60, Katie went to work for Summit Construction where her husband was employed and retired at age 65.  She kept busy taking care of her yard and flowers, her many house plants, decorating, crafts, reading, crocheting, clipping and trying new recipes, cooking each of her family's favorite meals when they came to visit and seeing her grandchildren grow up.   Katie always looked forward to the joy and laughter when her family came for the holidays.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilhelmina (Salzer) and Peter Bauer; her husband of over 55 years, Burnie Van Der Vorste who died in 1997; her sons, Dr. Roger Lyle Van Der Vorste who died in 2001;  Ralph William Van Der Vorste who died in 2001; her granddaughter, Tami Jo Gielaski who died in 2000; her brothers, John; Fred; William and Peter Bauer; and her sisters, Magdalena (Maggie) Cullum; Emma Van Der Laan; and Jean Van Der Laan.

Katie is survived by her daughter, Linda Nowell; her daughters in law, Pat Van Der Vorste and Mary Van Der Vorste Merrill; her five grandchildren, Traci Kaufman; Ryan Van Der Vorste (Elanor) ; Amber Rosin (Fred); Ry Van Der Vorste (Jayda) ; Kambria Van Der Vorste (Tim Kohn) ; eight great grandchildren, David and Grey Kaufman; Wilken and Jake Van Der Vorste; Dagny Rayne and Thor Holden Van Der Vorste; Frederick Michael and Luewella Mary Rosin and many beloved nieces and nephews who were always there for her.

Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m., Friday, September 11, 2020, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Custer, SD.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 11, 2020, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Custer, SD with committal services following at Custer Cemetery.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD.