Kirsten Leahna Bott

Kirsten Leahna Bott, 69 years old of Traverse City passed away on Tuesday September 2, 2025 after a courageous battle with endometrial cancer. Kirsten was born on April 14th,1956 in Ann Arbor Michigan to Sharon Day and Charles Anderson. She spent most of her early childhood playing baseball and riding bikes on the streets of Ann Arbor with her brothers. She created many lasting friendships in early adulthood and maintained them throughout her life. In 1974 she graduated from Huron Highschool in Ann Arbor and went on to attend Washtenaw Community College. She met the love of her life, Max, while she was working for MDOT in the Ludington area where he was a project manager for Rieth-Riley Construction. They married in 1991 and together raised three beautiful daughters that were the light of her life. Eventually they moved to Traverse City and she soon ended up working in contract administration at Team Elmer’s, alongside her husband Max. Kirsten loved to talk to people and cultivated friendships with every supplier and subcontractor that Elmer’s did business with. Anyone who knew her knew how organized she was and how much she loved using excel, she was fondly referred to as the queen of spreadsheets. During her 20 years at Elmer’s she developed most of her dearest and closest friendships. In 2021 she retired to pursue her hobbies and spend time with her grandchildren. Kirsten loved flowers and gardening, shopping with anyone who would go, collecting and doing puzzles, playing cards, and traveling. When she learned she had terminal cancer she made a bucket list and spent the next 8 months tackling it with a smile on her face. She always joked she was going to “kick that can” down the road as far as she could. She was grateful for every day she got and spent her last months making so many great memories with those she loved. Kirsten is survived by her husband Max, her three daughters, Katrina (Chad) Jenkins, Kelli (E.J.) Walter, Kathleen (Kevin) Leahy, and grandchildren Anderson and Pierce Jenkins, Landon and Nolan Walter, and Laurel and Rowan Leahy. Her mother Sharon Vaughan, father Charles (Roberta) Anderson, brothers Derek (Kristine) Anderson, Dirk (Amy) Anderson, Dagvin (Liz) Anderson, Matt (Laura) Tidswell, and sister Inger (Dan Rich) Anderson. She is also survived by her favorite “outlaws”, Theresa (Kevin) Breen, Sue (Tim) LeClair, Maureen (Dennis) Wolfe, Allen (Lori) Bott, Phil (Beth) Bott and many beloved nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held at the Gardens at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, MI on Friday September 12th from 1-3 PM with a celebration of life to follow. In her honor donations can be made to the Women’s Resource Center of Traverse City or the Cancer Research Institute.

Kirsten Leahna Bott

April 14, 1956 - September 2, 2025