Karen Delores (Swenson) MILLER

MILLER, SWENSON, TERHARK, ANDERSON, SMITH, LARKIN, MORRIS, STEWART, HAUGEN, OBERRUETER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/29/2015 at 12:30:24

February 2, 1944 --- April 27, 2015

Karen D. Miller, age 71, of Belmond, IA, won her courageous and valiant battle with cancer on Monday, April 27, 2015 at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond, when she was set free from the chains of her illness and will begin her knew journey with her loved ones. Funeral services will be on Friday, May 1, 2015, 10:30 AM, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond, IA. The Reverend Alan Schulz will be officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday at the Andrews Funeral Home 516 1st St. S.E., Belmond from 6-8 PM and will continue one hour prior to the funeral at church Friday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a card or memorial in Karen's name may wish to consider the Iowa Specialty Hospital Belmond Auxiliary, Trinity Lutheran Church, or to the donor's choice.

Karen Delores Swenson, the daughter of William and Sadie (TerHark) Swenson, Sr. was born February 2, 1944, at Belmond, IA. In her childhood she began her life long membership in the Trinity Lutheran Church where she was baptized and confirmed. Karen attended Belmond Community Schools where she participated in various activities, a favorite of which was the school choir. She graduated with the Belmond High School Class of 1962.

Karen was united in marriage to Bernard Miller on March 10, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church. The couple's union was blessed with two daughters, Pamela and Belinda. In earlier years, Karen was employed with We-3 Catering, Restaurant and Grocery Store in Belmond. She then worked for Wilbur and David Lieberknecht at O.K. Tire in Belmond as their bookkeeper for 18 years. She very much enjoyed her years working for the two of them. Karen was employed there until her husband died in 1996 at which time she moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma. Once she settled in their, Karen shared her love for young people working as a Certified Teaching Assistant in the Public Schools in Muskogee with her main area of focus in Special Education.

Though she had worked outside the home, her main focus in life was being a wife and life partner to her husband, Bernard, a loving and nurturing mom to her two daughters, and a proud and doting grandma and great grandma. She truly relished these roles and received great joy in helping to guide them in life and support the in all their endeavors. Karen looked forward to keeping up with the activities and adventures in he daughters families and their families. She had a special bond with each one in their own ways and was proud of all their accomplishments. Karen had a wonderful relationship with her grandson, Josh Morris, whom she had come to count on in so many different ways over the years. He was always there for her.

Karen had done some traveling over the years and had been to Canada, Minnesota, and Florida. She looked forward to fishing treks to Straight Lake, in Osage, MN. She was a life long golfer, enjoyed country music and was especially fond of Reba, Elvis, and Roy Orbison, as well as Linda Sue Baker. Karen relaxed while watching her favorite CSI, playing Pogo and other games on her computer, and coffeeing with friends. She looked forward to catching up with others on Facebook. She enjoyed sports and was loyal to the Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes. Karen was an avid Nascar fan and looked forward to afternoons spent watching the "Big Race", whatever that might be.

Karen gave he time and talents over the years to the Belmond Ambulance Service where she was an EMT for 8 years and had been a volunteer with the Belmond Ladies Auxiliary. She was a past Noble Grand and had been active as a Jaycette.

Her faith life was also very important to her and she had been active in various roles at Trinity Lutheran Church, including that of a very dedicated choir member. She had also been to Colorado with the church over the years.

Karen returned to her roots in Belmond four years ago and truly enjoyed to times since that time sharing in the lives her family and friend. After being diagnosed with terminal illness that initially gave her only a short period of time to live, she strengthened her faith and stubbornness and took on the journey ahead full speed. One of her favorite mission statements was "You have to take life as it comes!". She outlived her diagnosed race of life several times over. She worked through her "Bucket List" and remained independent and focused on the moment. Karen wants to be remembered as "Being a Positive Person in Life No matter what road she was traveling in the Journey!"

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Pamela (Tom) Anderson, Manson, IA, and Belinda Miller (Mark Smith), Austin, TX; sister, Genevieve Larkin, Belmond, IA; brother, Richard Swenson, Marion, IA, and sister-in-law, Jan Swenson, West Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren and their families, Josh Morris (Amanda) and kids Amaya, Izaac, and Kaylie Morris, Clarion, IA; Courtney Stewart (John), Clarion, IA, and kids, Sharisse and Antonio; Collin Haugen (companion Shelby), Cypress, TX; Alex Oberrueter and his daughter, Paityn, Newtown, MO; Trey Anderson (Jessica) Ottawa, KS, and kids, Corbin and Delaney; and Callan Anderson, Clare, IA; also numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

http://www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com/fh/print.cfm?type=obituary&o_id=3089397&fh_id=14473