Katherine Louise Junnila Sholtz ("Katie"), 80, of Golden Valley, Minnesota departed this world on February 3, 2012. She was born to Finnish immigrants Eino Albin Junnila and Helmi Salmi on July 14, 1931 in Waukegan, Illinois. She married Paul Sholtz on August 30, 1952, and is survived by her husband, sister Rachel Weaver, daughter Karen Sholtz (Brian Cuthbertson), son Peter Sholtz (Jane), and granddaughters Laura and Lisa Sholtz.

Katherine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1952, and a Master of Science degree in biochemistry in 1953, both from the University of Illinois, and a Master of Library Science degree from the State University of New York in 1967. She worked as a research associate at Harvard Medical School and at Iowa State University. She was a librarian at the IBM Laboratory in Rochester, Minnesota, and Computer Applications librarian and later Associate Director of the Mayo Clinic Medical Library. From 1980 to 1991, she served as Director of Library Services at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut.

Katherine was always active in community service, serving as President of the League of Women Voters local chapter in Rochester, Minnesota, and Chairman of the Housing and Redevelopment Agency in Rochester. After retirement in Minneapolis, she served for 15 years as a Medicare and Insurance counselor with Senior Community Services of Hennepin County.

She was devoted to her family and to her church, as a church council member, bible study teacher and student, and assisting minister. She was an avid traveler and bird-watcher, having visited seven continents, over 70 countries, and amassing a life bird list of over 1800 species.

Her biography is included in Who's Who in American Women.