Catherine Armstrong

Minot

How do you sum up someone’s life? If one knew our mom, she wasn’t one to want to have the attention on her. She preferred to be in the back, silent, smiling, and serving the Lord. Her name was Catherine Ora Armstrong, but she preferred to be called Cathy.

Cathy was born on March 18, 1951, in the middle of a blizzard, in her home in Carpio, ND. She died on February 2, 2025 in the hospital in Minot, ND, while the snow was falling from the sky. She attended Minot Public Schools until she graduated from Minot High School in 1969.

She was married on January 23, 1971, to Guy Armstong Jr. They were later divorced in 1996. Together they shared three children. In 1983, they moved their family to New Underwood, SD. Cathy started substituting in the school, was a cook for the nursing home and served as the secretary for the small town church. As her kids grew, she took a job at the Ellsworth Air Force Base School as a librarian. She worked there until moving back to Minot, North Dakota in 2002. Cathy started work at Delta Vacations for a few years until starting at ING. She remained there until her retirement. Since 2012, she has held the position of secretary at Carpio Lutheran Church.

Of all her accomplishments in this life, being a grandma was her favorite. Not only was she an amazing grandma, she was also an amazing aunt. Cathy also had all her honorary grandkids, nieces and nephews. She was great at making pancakes in an array of shapes. She loved to cook and loved to share that food, it was her love language. Cathy loved being with family. She also shared her time and goodies with her church and made everyone feel welcomed. She was so generous, loving, and had the most faithful heart.

There isn’t enough space to tell all the wonderful things that she did and who she was to us. The best we can do is acknowledge that Cathy is now with our Lord and Savior and is smiling down on us, with that smile that lit a room. Cathy loved everyone she met, made everyone a part of her family, and gave you a piece of her heart. She remembered every date, holiday, and made sure you felt special. Because in her eyes, you were special and with her hug any problem, seemed a little smaller.

Cathy is survived by her children James (Erin) Armstrong and Heather (Greg) Feland; brothers Martin Askvig, Maury (Chasity), Askvig; grandchildren Jessica (Brian Huston) Armstrong, Tristan Armstrong, Alex Armstrong, Tyrell Jung, Hannah Feland, Archer Feland; great-grandchildren Brecken Armstrong, Jameson Huston, Tobias Jung, Melody Jung; nieces and nephews Chutney Barnes, Caydra Askvig, Tristan (Jewel) Thompson, Siri (Ty) Van Horn, Reidun Askvig, and Cimarron Askvig; great-nephew Wayne Van Horn along with many others that are here feeling the loss of her presence.

Cathy is preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Ora (Anderson) Askvig, daughter Michelle (Armstrong) Bland, brother Michael Askvig and sister Cindy Askvig, son-in-Law James Bland along with other family members that have gone before. All are loved and remembered in our hearts. They were all there to greet her.

Celebration of Cathy’s Life: 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 10, 2025 at Carpio Lutheran Church, Carpio, ND. To view a livestream of the service or to share memories and condolences access her obituary at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

Interment: First Lutheran Cemetery, rural Carpio, ND (later in 2025)

Visitation: Sunday, February 9, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a sharing and memories beginning at 3:30 in the fellowship hall of Carpio Lutheran Church, Carpio, ND.

Memorials are preferred to Carpio Lutheran Church or a food pantry of the donor’s choice.

Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot is trusted with arrangements.

Published by The Minot Daily News, February 6, 2025.