Nat Khouangsathiene, age 78, of Largo, Florida died October 9th, 2022 following a stroke. On March 5, 1944, she was born in Son La, Vietnam to Hinh Baccam and Nho Bacthi. She was born into the war-torn country of Vietnam. Her family had no choice but to flee from the northern mountains of Vietnam to Hanoi to outrun the war. Unfortunately, while in Hanoi her father passed away. Nat was left with her mother and 4 sisters and brother to take care of. Her family eventually found themselves in a refugee camp in Vientiane, Laos.

While growing up in Vientiane, she met and married Mouane Khouangsathiene in Vientiane, Laos on May 1, 1962. They made their home there and had 5 wonderful children but as fate would have it war was upon them again. Nat’s mother, sisters and her own family fled to another refugee camp in Thailand but eventually made it to Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1975. It was not an easy journey for her and her family to make. They didn’t know the language or the food.

However, after 25 years, Nat and Mouane created a wonderful home for their family and made many friends. They were very active in their church both in Oskaloosa and Des Moines, Iowa. They started their own Christian ministry in 1989. In 2000, with no more children in the house, Nat and Mouane moved to Largo, Florida where they retired but continued their ministry. They created another supportive and loving community for themselves. She had a difficult life of constant work because she had to support and raise her family. However, she was very clever and industrious even at a very young age.

When she was a child she found one chicken and from that one chicken she raised a whole flock. The flock not only gave her family food, but she also sold the eggs for money. She loved to garden and grew enough vegetables to feed a whole community. She was a strong woman who could slaughter and process a whole cow by herself.

Nat was also a very loving and generous person. She enjoyed sharing her abundance of vegetables and fruits with everyone she came across. Her smile was always a joy to see. Nat is survived by one daughter, Samone Khouangsathiene of Portland, Oregon and three sons, Sackda Khouangsathiene of Tarpon Springs, Florida, Sam Khouangsathiene of Adelaide, Australia, Visa Khouangsathiene of Lexington, North Carolina; and 5 grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held in her honor at Veterans Funeral Care on Saturday October 15th, 2022 with a visitation at 1PM and a service to follow at 2PM.