Katy Rygaard is best known for her connection to the Rygaard family and the History Channel reality series Ax Men, where her late husband, Gabe Rygaard, became widely recognized through the family’s logging business. Over the years, searches about Katy have increasingly focused on her age, height, career, net worth, husband, and what happened in her personal life after Gabe’s death.
However, much of the information available online about Katy comes from secondary biography and celebrity websites, and several commonly repeated figures are not independently verified. This article separates documented information from online estimates and provides a clearer picture of her life and career.
Who is Katy Rygaard?
Katy Rygaard, also known as Katy Sotebeer-Rygaard, is an American businesswoman associated with the Port Angeles, Washington area. She became publicly known largely because of her marriage to Gabe Rygaard, the logger and Ax Men personality who died in 2016.
Katy was Gabe’s wife and business partner, and the couple had three children. Gabe and his family were closely associated with Rygaard Logging, the family business featured on Ax Men.
A Port Angeles High School alumni profile identifies Katy by her maiden name, Katy Sotebeer, and lists her as a member of the Class of 1993. The profile also associates her with occupations including salon owner and timber broker.
Because Katy was not a primary television personality, detailed information about her personal life and career remains relatively limited compared with information available about Gabe.
Early Life of Katy Rygaard
Public information about Katy Rygaard’s childhood and early years is limited.
Available biographical information connects her with Port Angeles, Washington, where she attended Port Angeles High School and graduated with the Class of 1993. Her maiden name is listed as Sotebeer.
Unlike her late husband, Katy did not become famous primarily through television. As a result, details about her parents, childhood, early education, and teenage years have not been extensively documented by major news organizations.
Some online biography websites claim that Katy worked as a teacher before becoming involved in real estate and business. However, these details are not supported by strong primary documentation and should therefore be treated as reported information rather than confirmed facts.
Katy Rygaard Age
Katy Rygaard’s exact date of birth is not reliably documented in major public sources.
A 2016 report from the Peninsula Daily News identified Katy as 41 years old at the time. Based on that historical age, she would be approximately 51 years old in 2026, depending on her birthday.
Her Port Angeles High School alumni information also lists her as a member of the Class of 1993, providing additional context about her age.
Katy Rygaard age in 2026: Approximately 51 years old.
Because her exact birth date has not been reliably confirmed, the figure should be considered an estimate rather than an exact age.
Katy Rygaard Professional Career
Katy’s professional career has received considerably less media coverage than Gabe Rygaard’s logging career.
Publicly available information connects her to business activities involving the Rygaard family. In a 2016 report, the Peninsula Daily News described Katy as Gabe’s business partner.
The Rygaard family was associated with several businesses, including Rygaard Logging, Ryfield Properties, and Penny Creek Quarry. These businesses helped establish the family’s reputation in the local timber and business community.
Katy has also been associated with Bronze Bay Tanning in Port Angeles through professional and business listings.
Some secondary biography websites have described her as having experience in teaching and real estate. Since these details are not as strongly documented, they should be viewed cautiously.
Katy Rygaard’s Known Professional Connections
Public information has associated Katy with:
- Rygaard family business activities
- Timber-related business interests
- Business management
- Real estate, according to secondary sources
- Salon or tanning-related business activities
Her professional identity therefore extends beyond her connection to Ax Men and Gabe Rygaard.
Is Katy Rygaard married?
Yes. Katy Rygaard was married to Gabe Rygaard until his death in September 2016.
The couple had three children and shared both family and business responsibilities.
Following Gabe’s death, public information indicates that Katy later married Robert L. Lightfoot II.
A public wedding registry records Katy Rygaard and Robert Lightfoot II with a wedding date of August 10, 2019.
This is an important detail because many older articles continue to describe Katy only as Gabe Rygaard’s widow. While that description was accurate following Gabe’s death, it does not reflect her later marital history.
Katy Rygaard Gabe Rygaard Wife
Katy Rygaard was Gabe Rygaard’s wife and business partner.
Gabe became a recognizable television personality through Ax Men, the History Channel reality series that followed logging crews and their work in challenging environments.
Katy and Gabe had three children. Their family life became connected to the public spotlight because of Gabe’s television career and the Rygaard family’s logging operation.
Although Katy was connected to the show through her family, Gabe was the more prominent on-screen personality.
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Gabe and Katy Rygaard
Gabe and Katy Rygaard combined family life with business responsibilities.
Gabe was associated with Rygaard Logging alongside members of his family. Katy was described as his business partner, and the family had additional business interests involving property and quarry operations.
The couple had three children and lived in the Port Angeles area.
Gabe’s appearance on Ax Men brought considerable attention to the Rygaard family and their logging business. Katy generally maintained a more private profile compared with her husband.
Their story became particularly well known following Gabe’s unexpected death in 2016.
Crash Katy Rygaard
The search phrase “Katy Rygaard crash” generally relates to the fatal crash involving her husband, Gabe Rygaard, rather than a crash involving Katy herself.
On September 16, 2016, Gabe was involved in a three-vehicle collision near Port Angeles, Washington. He died from injuries sustained in the accident at the age of 44.
The incident received significant attention because Gabe was known for his role on Ax Men.
His death left behind his wife, Katy, and their three children. The accident marked a major turning point for the Rygaard family and their public story.
Katy Sotebeer Rygaard
Katy Sotebeer-Rygaard is another name associated with Katy Rygaard.
Her Port Angeles High School alumni information identifies Sotebeer as her maiden name and connects her with the Class of 1993.
The name Katy Sotebeer-Rygaard also appears in professional listings associated with her business activities.
For people researching her biography, both Katy Rygaard and Katy Sotebeer-Rygaard can therefore be useful search terms.
Katy Rygaard Net Worth
Katy Rygaard’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified through official financial records.
Several online biography websites estimate her net worth at approximately $1 million. However, this number should be regarded as an estimate rather than a confirmed figure.
Her financial position may have been influenced by her business activities and involvement with the Rygaard family’s businesses. However, there is no reliable public financial statement that establishes exactly how much wealth Katy personally owns.
It is also important not to confuse Katy’s finances with estimates published about Gabe Rygaard.
What contributes to Katy Rygaard’s net worth?
Based on publicly available information, potential sources of income and wealth include:
- Business ownership and management
- Timber-related business activities
- Real estate activities reported by secondary sources
- Family business interests
- Other private business ventures
Because private financial information is not publicly available, the frequently reported $1 million estimate should not be presented as an exact figure.
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Katy Rygaard Height and Weight
Katy Rygaard’s official height and weight have not been reliably documented by authoritative sources.
Some online biography websites estimate her height at approximately 5 feet 6 inches, or around 167 cm, with an estimated weight of approximately 55 kg.
These measurements have not been independently confirmed through an official biography or reliable public record.
Therefore:
- Estimated height: 5 feet 6 inches
- Estimated height in centimeters: Approximately 167 cm
- Estimated weight: Approximately 55 kg
These figures should be treated as online estimates.
Katy Rygaard Social Media
Katy Rygaard has maintained a relatively private public profile compared with many reality television personalities.
Various social and professional profiles have used the name Katy Sotebeer-Rygaard, but it can be difficult to verify whether every account using that name belongs to the same individual.
Her limited online presence is consistent with her public image as someone known primarily through her family, business activities, and connection to Gabe Rygaard rather than as a full-time television personality.
Conclusion
Katy Rygaard’s life story is closely connected to the Rygaard family’s logging legacy and the History Channel series Ax Men. She was married to Gabe Rygaard and was also described as his business partner. The couple had three children before Gabe died in a 2016 vehicle crash near Port Angeles, Washington.
Katy later married Robert L. Lightfoot II, with public wedding information indicating that the marriage took place in 2019.
FAQs
How old is Katy Rygaard?
Katy was reported to be 41 in 2016, which would make her approximately 51 years old in 2026.
What is Katy Rygaard’s net worth?
Online sources estimate Katy Rygaard’s net worth at around $1 million, but the figure has not been independently verified.
Who was Katy Rygaard’s first husband?
Katy’s first publicly documented husband was Gabe Rygaard, the Ax Men personality and logger who died in 2016.
Is Katy Rygaard married now?
Public wedding information shows that Katy Rygaard married Robert L. Lightfoot II in 2019.
Who is Robert L. Lightfoot II?
Robert L. Lightfoot II is the person publicly identified as Katy Rygaard’s husband in a 2019 wedding registry.
