Rev. Katherine "Kathy" Barbara (Sampson) Horn

Rev. Katherine "Kathy" Sampson Horn, age 74, of Villard, MN, died Thursday, May 25, 2023, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3rd at Glenwood United Parish in Glenwood, with Pastor Yolanda Williams officiating. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood. 

Katherine Barbara Sampson, the only child of Leland Edward and Ella Marie (Aalgaard) Sampson, was born on September 15, 1948, in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in nearby Glendale, where she graduated from Glendale High School in 1966. She then went on to study American History at California State University in San Fernando. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Kathy spent three years studying at Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, to earn her Masters of Divinity. It was during this time that Kathy met her future husband, James “Jim” Arden Horn. The two married on December 20, 1972 in Minneapolis, MN. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Michael and Alethea. Kathy’s career in ministry spanned from 1974-2012 before her retirement. At that time she and Jim moved to a farm near Villard, MN, that they had purchased in 1993. It was a fixer-upper that the two worked on for a number of years to make it their retirement home.

During her time in the ministry, Kathy served at parishes in a number of Minnesota communities including Money Creek, Ridgeway, and Witoka (all in SE MN), St. Paul's east side, Burnsville, Rosemont, Glenwood, Waseca and Staples. Having “come of age” during the Women’s movement in America, Kathy had the pleasure of experiencing many “firsts” in her career. She was the first female pastor to serve at each of the churches she pastored and she had the honor of being the first female Methodist pastor in Minnesota to give birth. Something so unique at the time – it made the radio news in California where her family heard the birth announcement! Kathy’s husband, Jim, also graduated from seminary and the two were the first married couple to both hold credentials as Methodist pastors in Minnesota.

Kathy enjoyed reading and was an avid quilter. She had a passion for helping others, which wasn’t surprising given her chosen vocation. One cause that was especially near and dear to her was helping start OC Ministries a non-profit organization that partners with the United Methodist Church in Liberia and Sierra Leone, West Africa, and the Caribbean to empower young people to rise out of poverty through education. She and Jim served on the board of directors for many years and took part in mission trips to benefit the organization.

Kathy will be remembered for all the lives she touched and enriched over the years through her ministry and for the tremendous love she had for her family. She also rescued many animals and other critters and adopted several orphaned animals.

Kathy passed away on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital, having lived to the age of 74 years. May her memory be blessed.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, James Horn, of Villard; son, Michael (Amy) Horn; daughter, Alethea Sheridan; three granddaughters, Kayleigh, Megan, and Carrie Horn; cousin, Jim Dix of Albany, OR; along with other relatives and many friends. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Leland and Ella Sampson.

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