Kathleen (Kathy) Anne Rueschhoff Crothers was born in Leavenworth, Kansas on December 9, 1945 to Dave and Edna Rueschhoff. Kathy attended school in Grinnell, Kansas and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1963. She also graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in elementary education. Kathy moved to Colorado a year after graduating where she met and married Lyle (Bud) Crothers in 1974. Bud built a beautiful cabin in the Colorado mountains where they raised Arabian horses. After several years of shoveling way too much snow, they purchased a few acres outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas. She enjoyed working for over 30 years in the computer room for the University of Arkansas.
Kathy was an avid reader of books and a lover of horses and dogs. She and her various horses participated in English riding, Arabian costume riding and then she found her love of endurance riding. She and Bud traveled to many endurance rides and enjoyed spending time around the campfire with their many friends. Kathy enjoyed the competition of endurance riding, attending the conventions with her friends, playing horse Uno, riding the hills of Arkansas with many of her friends and attending her Cowgirl Up meetings.
Kathy was actively riding her horses until her health declined three years ago and was ordered by her doctor to stop. Kathy touched many lives and will be greatly missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Kathy is survived by her sisters Barbara (Lee) Broeckelman and Carolyn Robben both of Oakley, Kansas, a step daughter Connie (Gary) Schmidt, her step sons, Lyle Crothers, Indianapolis, Indiana and Matthew (Rhea) Crothers, Jacksonville, Florida, her step grandchildren, Bryan (Melissa) Schmidt, Josh (Rachel) Schmidt, Nicole Crothers and Michael Crothers, her step grandchildren, her nieces and nephews and her great nieces, nephews, cousins and her many friends.
Kathy’s celebration of life will held on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 2 pm at Beard’s Funeral Chapel, 855 South Happy Hollow Road, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701.
Memorials may be made to Heroes and Horses, PO Box 1067, Manhattan, MT 59741 or donate to www.heroesandhorses.org (mention Kathy’s name when submitting).
Kathy you and Dad are ridding together agian forever. I will miss our texting, but I will see you agian.
Prayers for peace and comfort during this sad season. Kathy left a legacy that will be cherished!
Kathy, your smiling warmth will be missed both on and off the trails—you have been a friend and mentor in many ways!! May you now draw easy breaths and ride many horses with Bud now!
It was a privilege to know Kathy as an endurance rider, competitor, vet scribe, OCER member…..she wore many hats and excelled at all of them. I was also lucky to buy Targa, her lovely chestnut gelding, and ride him on LD and endurance distances until he retired to be a lesson horse.
I will be sending prayers to her family.
Rest in peace Kathy. There are so many fond memories meeting you and Bud in Arkansas and Missouri. Relaxing at your campsite and hearing about your long endurance rides. Feeding apples and carrots to Dulley and Fox. My children Nicole and Michael had great memories too. Prayers for your Lyle Connie Matt and Kevin your sisters grandchildren great grandchildren and all your friends n family.
Kathy’s laugh, passion, compassion, intelligence and knowledge will be deeply missed. She and Bud touched so many lives in the endurance community. She made many of us better horsemen and better humans. Her actions and heart were always aligned.
I would say Rest in Peace Kathy, but I truly hope you’re riding far and Bud’s back at the trailer. That’s heaven.
What a beautiful photo to remember Kathy ! That’s how I will remember her! On the trail with her horse. Peace and comfort to the family.