Kathleen "Kathy" Peters

Kathleen “Kathy” Jeannette Peters, 70, of Gering, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Zion Evangelical Church located at 3617 5th Ave, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, with Pastor Andrew Griess officiating. No viewing will take place as cremation has occurred in accordance with Kathy’s last wish. Memorials are encouraged to Zion Evangelical Church. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting Kathy’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Kathy was born in Keosauqua, Iowa on February 20, 1954, to Donald and Jeanette (Clapper) Smith. She relocated to Nebraska with her family in 1962 and resided in various locations in the panhandle throughout the remainder of her life. Kathy attended Scottsbluff High School where she obtained recognition as the first and only female of her time to participate in a vocational auto mechanics program. Later in life, she went on to obtain an associate’s degree in culinary arts from DeVry University. 

Kathy was an avid reader who absorbed books like a sponge. She also loved music, crochet, cooking, canning, and gardening. Kathy had a vast collection of indoor plants and was particularly fond of violets. Although she held various jobs throughout her life, Kathy’s favorite and most recent employer was Runza in Scottsbluff, where she worked for over a decade and developed many close friendships. 

Survivors include her children, Henry “Hank” Rein, Trish Hartshorn, Stephen Rein, Jeremy Elsasser, Kevin Elsasser, Amy Peters, and Sarah Peters. Kathy is also survived by her beloved corgi, Abbey; nineteen grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Don and David Smith; and many other close friends and loved ones. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Steven Peters; former spouse, Henry Rein; her granddaughter, Heather Rein; and more recently, her son, Jonathon Rein.