Kay Reger, age 85, of New York Mills, entered eternal rest, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Visitation will be 12-1 p.m. with the funeral service at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13 at Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service in Perham. Burial will be in the Richville Cemetery, Richville.

Kay Columbine Reger was born in Perham on December 26, 1938, the daughter of Lyle T. and Ida J. (Grover) Whitney. She graduated from Perham High School. Kay did some waitressing in her earlier years. Eventually, she was married to Eltger Nurmi, and they had two beautiful children, Bradley and Roxanne Nurmi. In the 60s, Kay and Eltger ran the Mills Motel for several years. In 1980, Kay was united in marriage to John Reger. They had a wonderful daughter they named Crystal. Both Kay and John drove bus for the New York Mills School District, so twice a day, the couple would travel to and from town together to go to work. Kay drove as a substitute bus driver for two years and liked it so much that she drove another 30 years as a regular driver before retiring. 

Kay had a great laugh and a smile that would make anyone’s day and light up a room. Her favorite color was pink, and she loved “day” road trips with family and friends. Kay absolutely loved living in the country. John and Kay enjoyed hosting “farm day” in the fall at their hobby farm north of New York Mills where friends and family would enjoy great food, wagon rides, and visiting and catching up with one another. John, Kay, and Crystal would travel to Detroit Lakes frequently on Friday nights to see Kay’s mother and eat a delicious meal. Kay loved her mom’s home-cooked meals after a long week of work. Kay enjoyed feeding the birds every morning and watching them and other wildlife from the kitchen window. John and Kay raised horses, llamas, and guinea chickens on the hobby farm and mainly kept them as pets. She loved her horses and llamas and Annie Dog, the Schnauzer! Many mornings after their farm chores, you could find Kay enjoying a cup of black coffee and a sweet treat on the patio with John. When it came to mowing the lawn, Kay insisted she mow with her push mower. She’d use her mowers until the wheels fell off! Kay loved her flowers, plants, flower beds, western decor and her “fine” crystal. She enjoyed going to concerts and shows and even worked at WeFest a few years. Kay very much loved and valued her family, friends, and animals. She will be missed very much and will forever be in our hearts!

Surviving Kay are her husband, John; her daughter Crystal Reger; grandchildren Justin (Molly) Perry, Tiffany (Rodney) Brunko, and Brittany (Jake) Asfeld; several great-grandchildren; her siblings Melody (Tracy) Gentle, Cheryl (James) Bock, and Lowell (Deann) Whitney; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Kay in death were her parents Lyle Whitney and Ida Sherman; her son Bradley Nurmi; her daughter Roxanne Nurmi; and Bradley and Roxanne’s father Eltger Nurmi.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham,  (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com