Christy A. (Mrs. Peter) Kinney, age 63, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, November 17, 2018, after a long struggle with cancer. She was at home surrounded by loved ones and friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 24, 2018, at Cornerstone United Methodist Church. Rev. Steve Anderson will officiate. Music will be provided by Brooke Boswell and Ben Gietzen. The family is requested to meet at the church by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Visitation will be at the church on Friday, November 23 from 4-6 p.m. and also prior to the service on Saturday. Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Honorary pallbearer will be Jim Weber. Active pallbearers are: Al Hendricks, Dave Moffatt, Larry Rieffenberger, Chuck Warich, Dan Crego and Jeff Ainsworth.
Christy was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on November 15, 1955 to Frank and Ruth (Houck) Ainsworth. She attended Sheridan High school where she fell in love with Peter H. Kinney. She attended Eastern Montana College where she became a Medical Assistant in 1976. She and Peter were married November 25th, 1978 at the Air Force Academy Chapel. They lived in Sacramento, CA; Merced, CA; Rapid City, SD; Loveland, CO and finally made their home in Watertown, SD.
Christy was very involved in the education of her children and the children in Watertown. She and Peter helped open Watertown Christian School in 1991. She taught in the learning center in McKinley Elementary School and was a substitute teacher at Roosevelt Elementary. She helped students fall in love with reading. She taught Sunday School and led Bible study at Cornerstone UMC.
Christy survived a diagnosis of Breast Cancer in 1997 and because of her cancer journey began to visit women to help them through their Breast Cancer Journey. Out of these visits, she and a good friend began the Watertown Breast Cancer Support Group which has helped many women and families as they battle cancer. Christy opened her home to her mother during Ruth's 5 year battle with cancer.
Christy was very creative and loved to sew, knit, journal, cook, golf, and do projects with her daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Christy became a follower of Christ in 1976 and was baptized in 1981. Christy's love for Jesus was most evident through her incredible gifts of hospitality, generosity, and bold love for strangers in the midst of their great difficulty.
Like her Lord, she longed for all to be saved and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. "For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Christy is survived by her beloved husband Peter; her children Lindsay (Justin) Elkins, Jordan (Kelli) Kinney, and Allison (Paul) Nix; 4 grandchildren Keely, Jude, Weston, and Abel; 3 siblings: Janet (Dan) Crego, Laurie (Chuck) Warich, Jeff Ainsworth; and many nieces and nephews.
She was greeted in heaven by her mother Ruth and father Frank, her mother-in-law Hellen and father-in-law Richard (Pete), her sister Susan, and her brother-in-law Bill.
Momma Kinney requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Watertown Breast Cancer Support Group. As a family, we request that you do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone in remembrance of her bold love. Instead of wearing traditional black to the service, please wear colorful attire to celebrate her life! (Fight Club Shirts are appropriate.)
Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel - Watertown, SD - Nov, 2018.