Kathy was born February 5, 1955 to Frank and Jeanne Elder in Spokane, Washington. She died July 2, 2025. A 1974 graduate of Lewis & Clark High School, she went on to earn a certificate in Medical Secretarial and Transcription. She married Tom Harding in September of 1976 and moved to Spokane. She went on to raise three children, daughter Tracey and sons Terry and Kyle, on their farm near Sprague.

In high school, Kathy was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. When her kids were young, she was an active parent, volunteering at the Sprague-Lamont Co-Op Preschool. She was also an EMT for the Sprague Ambulances. In her later years, Kathy volunteered many Saturdays at the Sprague Food Bank. She belonged to the Mary Queen of Heaven Church Parish.

Kathy was employed as a medical secretary at the hospital in Ritzville from 1976 until 1980. She worked as a clerk for the City of Sprague, and later as a para-educator in the Sprague School District.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Tom; daughter Tracey Korthuis (Kent), Sprague; son Terry Harding (Shinna), Sprague; son, Kyle Harding, Denver; grandchildren Maeve and Reagan Korthuis, and Angus and Ember Harding; brother, Ken Elder, Spokane; sister. Kris Arens, Seattle; brother, Kurt Elder, Everett; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.