Kathy was born in Omaha and raised and schooled in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She married her first husband Ralph (Skip) Steadman and gave birth to her first child, a baby girl, Leslie Fait in 1975. She gave birth to her second child in 1977, a son, Mathew John. She and Skip devorced and she wed, Thomas Payton in 1979, moved to Plattsmouth, NE, were soon there after she gave birth to her second daughter, Toni Rae. She raised her three neices, Kristine, Rose and Stacey from 1988 until 1992. She was a full time student, raising 6 children, acheived a 4.0 grade point average, putting her on the "Dean's List for 1988-1989 and 1989-1990, also gaining her recognition in the "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1991. She attended college at Bellevue University and received a degree in sociology and a masters in psychology. She remained in Plattsmouth until 1994 where she and Stan Kahler moved to rural Murray, NE. Kathy worked for the state of Iowa briefly.