Kathleen Dorothy Traptow (nee Stenerson) was surrounded by a family that deeply loved her. She passed away in Lacombe, Alberta, on April 16, 2026, at the age of 84, with her three daughters by her side.

Kathy was born on October 16, 1941, in Stettler, Alberta. She grew up on a small family farm near Buffalo Lake with her parents Dorothy and Charlie Stenerson, her sisters Margaret, Alice, and Linda, and brothers Kenneth and Donald.  

Kathy was adventurous, heading off to the University of Alberta to complete her Registered Nursing (RN) degree (1963) and working in Jasper in the summer. During this time, she married the love of her life, Stan Traptow, also from Bashaw, and after brief stops in Eckville and Mirror, they raised three girls, Deb (Curtis – Taylor, Josh, Lane), Darlene (Ian – Emilie, Erika, Danielle), and Nadine (Murray – Andrew, Julia, Mia), in Bashaw.

For over 40 years, Kathy was well known in the community for being an incredible nurse. For her, nursing in a rural community wasn’t just a job, it was part of the fabric that keeps a community safe and whole. From obstetrics and stitches – to emergencies and long-term care – Kathy was a steady hand in the room. Her lengthy career wasn't measured in hours worked, but in the thousands of lives that were made a little easier because she was there.

Kathy loved her friends and her life in Bashaw, and she and Stan taught their girls the importance of serving others: helping neighbors, canvassing for numerous foundations, serving at church, and providing meals as a member of the Royal Purple. They loved their family holidays – including those times when they packed up and hit the road in their Scamper trailer – or the memorable holiday to Disneyland and Los Angeles where they watched the Oilers lose an infamous game in the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs.

For the second part of her life, she dearly missed Stan, who passed away in 1983.

Sports were also a focal point of Kathy’s life – and she loved cheering on her girls and her grandkids as they played basketball, volleyball, hockey and baseball. This love extended to the Oilers and the Blue Jays, and Kathy rarely missed a game.

Kathy moved from Bashaw to Lacombe in 2001, which allowed her to continue to spend valuable time with the most important people in her life, her family.

She was predeceased by her parents, Charlie and Dorothy Stenerson, her sister Margaret, and her brother Donald. 

As a family, we want to extend our tremendous gratitude to all of you who made Kathy’s life better by your presence in it.

Kathy would be pleased if any gifts or donations were made to Bashaw and District Support Services for the Bashaw Community Health Centre. 

A Funeral Service will be held at the Bashaw Community Centre & Hall (5020 - 52 Street, Bashaw) on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., with interment to take place at the Bashaw Cemetery.

A Video Recording of the Service will appear the evening following the service.