01/19/2026
Katherine Ann Aldrich
On January 12, 2026, Kathrine Ann Aldrich died in her home, supported by her husband of 55 years and her three daughters, following a year and a half-long treatment for lung cancer.
Born Katherine Ann Kirwan in Bozeman, Montana, on February 25, 1946, to Louis and Marion Kirwan, Kathy’s love of family and home started with her tight-knit family of parents and six siblings.
Kathy attended school at Holy Rosary in Bozeman, where her love of music, traditions, and learning was nurtured. Following high school graduation, Kathy attended Montana State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology. This education took her to Seattle for a clinical internship and Billings for work at St. Vincent Hospital in the lab. She continued to love school and learning throughout her life, and she studied accounting, computer science, and art at Eastern Montana College and later MSU-Billings.
In October of 1969, Kathy’s life would take the first step toward her own family when she met Richard Aldrich, a law-school friend of her brother Mike. Intrigued by, or at least able to overlook his strange accent mixture of Texas and Butte, and his outfit of shorts with an untucked shirt, Kathy agreed to go on a date to Gramma’s.
Their 55-year marriage has been a testament to tenacious devotion and the ability to appreciate each other’s interests. Kathy learned to fly-fish, and Rich learned to appreciate all types of art. Kathy and Rich remodeled their home in Billings, inside and out, numerous times without disagreement on any of the details.
Kathy’s impact reached her three daughters and their husbands, nine grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Most pictures of her had her holding a baby or playing with a child. She is remembered for sitting right down on the floor in the “yellow zone” to play construction, playing pretend with dolls or “guys” of all kinds, or building with blocks and Legos for hours. She was famous for made-up tales about Fred the Rescue Frog and Rosie with the Red Bow, whose adventures would continue during visits and over phone calls. She somehow remembered all the details and continued the story the next time it was requested. She read books with great expression and enthusiasm, often adopting different voices for the characters. On road trips, she even read aloud to her husband and finished off the entire Harry Potter series as they traveled. Kathy’s first priority was family, and it was this focus that found her at the births of every grandchild, staying sometimes for months at a time to help with preemies and twins. She answered the call and helped her children through 15 moves, lashing housewares to the roofs of cars during torrential rainstorms, scrubbing stoves full of chicken feathers, packing and carrying boxes upon boxes, painting walls, and decorating room after room. Wherever her family needed her, she made her way there.
Kathy’s incredible influence didn’t just stop with family. She also worked as a fundraiser for the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center. Her work on Meadowlark House meant that the donation of duplexes to the center was put to good use. Kathy spearheaded the remodeling, decoration, and accessibility of the duplexes for out-of-town patients and their families to stay in Billings for treatment. She also took a major role in coordinating the Messiah Festival, Art From the Heart, and the patient reunion events to raise funds for the Center.
Kathy loved time at home and painstakingly decorated for each season. She curated art from her travels with Rich and her own creations on rotation by season and theme. Kathy retained her love of baking, even after she turned her aprons and spatulas over to Rich for the rest of the meal duties. She was a voracious reader and in the second half of her life became a skilled knitter as well. One could often find Kathy at the table or end of the couch with a project in her hands, and all of her children and grandchildren proudly wore socks and sweaters made by their Baba.
Kathy is survived by her brothers Mike, Pat, and Tom Kirwan; her sisters Karen Newmark, Pam Warner, and Ann Peters; her husband Richard Aldrich; her daughters Amy McAfee (Tim), Lori Selwyn (Reed), Sara Pokladnik (Chris); grandchildren Jillian, Eli, Amelia, and Nathaniel Selwyn; Ian and Colin McAfee; and Griffin, Cody, and Leo Pokladnik; as well as her step-sisters and brothers and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held in February. Those wishing to make a memorial gift in her name are invited to consider Meadowlark House via The St. Vincent Hospital Foundation (406-237-3600; SV General Donation Form) or P.E.O. Chapter BL (send to P.E.O. Chapter BL Scholarship Fund, in care of Vicki Coffee, 2944 Gregory Dr, South, Billings, MT 59102) in lieu of flowers.
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