Benedictine Sister Kathryn (Blanche) Casper, 91, died June 18 at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. The Eucharist of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph. Burial of cremated remains will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Monday, June 26, for a prayer service at 3 p.m. followed by visitation until 4:15 p.m., or for a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral on Tuesday, June 27.
She was born Jan. 23, 1932, to Michael and Madeline (Kierian) Casper in Breckenridge. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School in Breckenridge, Torrence Junior High School in Torrence, California, and Breckenridge Public High School in Breckenridge. Kathryn entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 10, 1950, was received into the novitiate as Sister Blanche June 20, 1951, made first monastic profession July 11, 1952, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1955. She celebrated her silver jubilee in 1977, golden jubilee in 2002 and her 60th anniversary of profession in 2012.
Sister Kathryn received a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in elementary education at the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, and a Master of Religious Education degree from Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. She attended Diocesan Teachers’ College and St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Saint John’s University School of Theology, Collegeville. In 1997, she attended Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska., and was certified as a spiritual director.
Education was Sister Kathryn’s first area of ministry. She served in various cities in Minnesota, including as a teacher at Maple Lake, Watkins, St. Peter School in St. Cloud, and as teacher and principal at Staples. At St. Peter Parish in St. Cloud and in Hutchinson, Minnesota, she was the religious education coordinator. She was then employed by Catholic Charities where she ministered to divorced and separated persons and later served as a therapist at Psychotherapeutic Resources, St. Cloud.
After some years in this ministry, Sister Kathryn was asked to become part of the vocation-formation team at the monastery. During this time, she served as director of sisters in first profession and was the coordinator of the vocation-formation team, while continuing to give lectures and workshops. She also served as a personal growth facilitator. Beginning in 2000, she worked in spiritual ministries training and supervising spiritual directors and served as a spiritual director at the Spirituality Center at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. After moving to Saint Scholastica Convent, Sister Kathryn engaged in a ministry of prayer, especially for the Spirituality Center.
In addition to the sisters in her Benedictine community, Sister Kathryn is survived by her brother-in-law, Don Betzen, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Michael (+Louisa), and sisters, Margery (+Kapp) Lamvik and Genevieve Betzen.
Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.