
Kathleen M. Bigler was born September 21, 1920 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada the daughter of the later Elmer and Frances (Beswick) Bigler. The family moved to North Dakota then later to International Falls, MN where she grew up and attended school, graduating from Falls High School. She worked in International Falls and St. Paul, MN where she volunteered with the USO. She met Clifford Kroulik in 1944 and the couple married on April 7, 1944 in Donaldson, MN. The couple lived and farmed in the Stephen, MN area where they raised their four children: Penny, Linda, Dean and Avis. She worked as a seamstress for Artic Cat for 12 years. In 1987 the couple moved to Donaldson, MN and lived there until moving to Grafton to be closer to family. Clifford passed away in the fall of 1991. Kay continued to live in her home until the age of 99 when she moved to the Lutheran Sunset Home.
She was a member of the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Stephen, MN and the Grafton Lutheran Church. She enjoyed sewing, baking and playing Yahtzee. She was also a Foster Grandparent for the Grafton Public School for a number of years.
Kathleen is survived by her children: Penny (Dave) Jensen, Stephen, MN; Linda (Ray) Rud, Grafton, ND; Dean (Pam) Kroulik, Ogema, MN and Avis (Tom) Dolan, Fargo, ND; grandchildren: Denise, Scott, Lisa, Steve, Todd, Dana, Michelle and Deanne; 14 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren and her sister, Shirley Frank of International Falls, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers: Clarence, George and Harlan and sisters; Connie and Flossie.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Grafton Lutheran Church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Monday from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the Church on Tuesday for one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Donaldson, MN.