Kathleen Kay "Kitti" Bullis lived a life rich in family, friendship, laughter, and adventure. On the morning of December 27, 2025, she passed peacefully at Ava's House Hospice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was surrounded by love and the presence of many family members during her final days. She was 86.

Kitti was born on October 15, 1939, in Sioux Falls to Frederick "Lee" and Beryl (Newell) Culp. She grew up alongside her sisters Carole,  Ginnie, and Jeri, and attended Sioux Falls public schools.

She married Eugene Bullis, and together they raised five children—Jeanne, Jeff, Tom, Todd, and Cindy. Throughout her life, Kitti worked primarily as a waitress in Sioux Falls and later in Phoenix, Arizona, after moving to be closer to her son Todd, his wife Darla, and their son T.J. She later made her way to Missoula, Montana shortly after the birth of  grandson Quinn, where she worked as a senior companion—continuing caring for others with warmth, humor, and sincerity.

Kitti embraced life with curiosity and joy. She loved traveling, bowling, coloring, and playing cards. She was especially hard to beat at cribbage, as at least a few of her grandkids would attest to. She was always up for an adventure, whether it was a road trip, camping or a river float, and she was always happy to lend a hand, especially when it involved spending time with her grandkids. She made friends wherever she went and was open-minded, warm-hearted, and accepted people as they were. She loved her kitties, Cleo and Grace.

Even in her final days, Kitti's feisty spirit and sense of humor remained fully intact. She played and won a few hands of blackjack, returned a granddaughter's peace sign with one of her own, shimmied her shoulders to a familiar tune playing in the room, and took the opportunity—one last time—to lovingly set a few people straight. When all had been said and all goodbyes shared, she slipped quietly away, just as she lived—on her own terms.

Kitti will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her daughters, Jeanne (Gary) Beuckens and Cindy (Chris) Waltz, sons Jeff (Kim) Bullis  and Tom Culp, daughter-in-laws Darla Bullis and Sherry Bullis, her fourteen grandchildren—Heather (Pete), Angie (Bob), Justin (Jodi), Linzi (Justin), Ben, T.J (Jesse), Matt (Brittany), Jena (Mike), Kadie (Jordan), T.J., Taylor (Kari), Nick (Alyssa), Quinn (Justine), and Solvei.  Cherished great-grandchildren Sierra (Jake), Raechel (Matt), Carter, Harper (Brady), Kameron (Cory), Tryg, Kate, Claire, Lane, Justin, Braylond, Grayson, Wyatt, Ledoux and baby Cooper.  Great, great granddaughter Annabel plus sister, Jeri (Virgil) Koepp and brother-in-laws John and Bert VanderWaal.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Carole and Ginnie VanderWaal; brother Ronald Culp, son Todd Bullis; and her great-grandson Jacob Dant.

Kitti leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and a zest for life.