Carrie Linette Kraft

Carrie Linette (Flatau) Kraft passed away on June 29, 2023, at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines, Iowa.  A funeral mass will be held in Jamestown, North Dakota at a later date.

Carrie was born on November 24, 1961, in Valley City, North Dakota to Carole and Donald Flatau.  She was a talented musician. After earning her BA in piano performance at the University of North Dakota, Carrie married and settled in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Carrie was active in her community and an active member in MTNA (Music Teachers National Association). She played for noon and Sunday evening Mass at St. James Basilica in Jamestown, as well as weddings, funerals, and special occasions.  In addition to her independent teaching, she was a director of the Gardenette Senior Choir and the accompanist for the men’s singing group, The Choralaires. She was nationally recognized for her piano compositions, especially her keyboard ensembles.  Her solos, duets, and trios are published and used by teachers and students across the US, as well as in Canada, Japan, and China. Carrie collaborated with Dr. Don Christianson on several anthems and the “Trinity Mass/Liturgy” that is still in publication.

Carrie was also an avid runner and loved good food and cooking shows.  She was first and foremost a proud mother to her daughter Laura. She was so happy to have her in her life.  She loved to follow Laura as she competed in golf in high school and college.  In 2017, Carrie was diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia, and moved to Knoxville, Iowa to be with her sister.

Those left to remember Carrie are her daughter, Laura Kraft of Redmond, Washington; sister, Christine (Lee) Meyers of Knoxville, Iowa; brother, Alan (Audra) Flatau of Morgan, Utah; aunts, Janet Morris of Lakeland, Florida and Myrtle Elmore of McLean, Virginia; nieces, Amber (Nathaniel) Adkins of Fairfield, Iowa, Amanda (Baylor) Sison of Duluth, Georgia, and Aria (Chip) Rosenblum of Henderson, Nevada; nephews, Andrew (Kirsten) Meyers of Knoxville, Iowa and Zachary (Michaela) Flatau of Layton, Utah; and many relatives, friends, and a generation of piano students. 

Carrie was preceded in death by her parents, Carole and Donald Flatau; and a brother, Neil Flatau.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a charity of your choice in Carrie's name.