Cathy J. Huetig

Cathy June “Happy” Huetig, age 77, of Belden, passed away on March 11, 2026, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

Born on August 27, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Walter Dale and Phyllis June (Roland) Huetig, Cathy graduated from Belden High School in 1966. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, followed by a Pre-School through 12th grade School Administration endorsement and a Master of Science in Education from Wayne State College.

She devoted her career to teaching, serving as a K-12 music teacher in Sutherland, Iowa, David City, Humphrey St. Francis Catholic School, Sidney, McCool Junction, Laurel/Concord, Randolph, and Stromsburg, as well as at Western Nebraska Technical College in Sidney. Later she returned as a substitute teacher in all subject areas for the Randolph and Coleridge public schools until her retirement. Her warm communication with students earned her the affectionate nickname “Happy,” a name she embraced and that followed her throughout the community. A highlight of her career was being chosen as commencement speaker for the Randolph High School class of 2023.

Cathy is survived by her brother, Douglas R. “Ted” Huetig of Randolph, along with cousins, many friends, and former students. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Phyllis; her infant brother, Charles D. Huetig; and her sister-in-law, Dianna A. (Harris) Huetig. She will be remembered for her deep love of her students, her pets, her family and friends, Nebraska football, and life itself.