Rhoda Ahlene Cathey, age 95, a resident of Palm Desert, CA, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois. She was born July 10, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Laverne and Ruth Nelson.

Rhoda and her younger sister Beatrice were raised in Minneapolis, attending school up through graduation from high school. Her father found new work in southern California and moved the family to Highland Park, just south of Pasadena. There she attended a local junior college, Los Angeles Pacific College, and was a member of Hermon Free Methodist Church. Eventually, she enrolled in Seattle Pacific College in Washington, where she was senior class president and editor of the yearbook.

During her college years, she met her future husband, David, in Highland Park. After graduating from college, they were married at the Free Methodist Church in 1948. They settled in Highland Park where they had two sons. They moved to Modesto, CA in 1956 where her last two sons were born. In subsequent years the family moved to Lone Pine CA, Sacramento CA, Glendale CA, Geneva IL, Bedford PA, Thousand Oaks CA, Lake Arrowhead CA, Murfreesboro TN, and finally Palm Desert CA.

Rhoda was a domestic artist. She was renowned for her cooking and sewing, making most of her clothes. She loved to decorate and always made a comfortable home wherever she lived. She was an avid reader of a wide variety of genres and loved to research and learn new skills. On visits, Rhoda always brought the family together with games and jigsaw puzzles, telling stories of family history, and making special homemade gifts and wonderful meals.

Most importantly, she was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and took her study of scripture, prayer, and commitment to the local church seriously, leading a women's Bible study even into her nineties. She was unwavering and indefatigable in her hope in a loving God. She modeled her faith through service, a regal spirit, and an optimistic attitude.

She was preceded in death by her husband David in 2008.

Rhoda is survived by her sister, Beatrice of Knoxville, TN, her four sons: Bradford (Kathleen) of Wheaton, IL, Scott (Shawn) of Twin Peaks CA, Dennis of Palm Desert CA, and Bryan (Rayma) of Camas WA, grandchildren Sarah (James) Gordon, Jonathan (Jennie) Cathey, Kevin (Leslie) Cathey, Tonya (Kyle) Scribner, Matt (Sarah) Cathey, Jordan (Dani) Cathey, Lindsey (Chris) Sinta, Larry (Kelly Gabrielson) Luciano, Craig Cathey, Bryan (Amanda) Cathey, Brittany Cathey, Ryan (Trisha) Cathey, and Eric (Andrea) Cathey, and by great-grandchildren: Thomas, Theo, Adelyn, Lily, Brooklyn, Emma, Andrew, Megan, Ethan, Zachary, Levi, Owen, Greyson, Andi Lynn, Mackenzie, Aaron, Ryenne, Maxon, Rory, Gavin, Griffin, Paxton, Parker, and Mia, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held privately.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.