Karleen was only 57 when she unexpectedly passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2015, in Rapid City SD. It's hard to say goodbye, we wish we could have had more time that could have been spent together. We wish that so much of her life had not been lost to her illness, and that things could have been different for her. We know that she is at peace and her struggles are at an end, there will be more pain and sadness. But even though she is gone, she has left her legacy of love and perseverance. The way she touched our lives will remain, and we ask to keep those memories alive by sharing them with her children and one another.

Karleen is survived by her five children and eight grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends. Karleen was from an exceptional breed of nurses. They get up in the morning and go to work with one simple yet profound purpose in mind, we will care for you. Karleen's most important tool in her work day was her heart. This family and her role as a mother and grandmother was the most important thing to her. This is where she drew her strength and left her legacy, being with her family is what Karleen enjoyed most of all. Her life had many obstacles, yet through it all her love and caring for her family remained her focus in so many, many ways she was able to show that love to us. This perseverance through adversity is a powerful lesson for us, and we believe it is her legacy. She has given us many wonderful lessons and kept our priorities straight. Keeping the most important things in focus, the love and care of our family; letting them know, in all ways, you can show them that you love them. Not letting adversities, or set back, or any distractions of the world keep you from the most important aspect in life.

Our mother was a lovely woman, she embodied all the attributes of a perfect mom. She was caring, thoughtful, hardworking, compassionate, loving, and so much more. It is so difficult to think of all of the words to describe our mother as a person and how much she meant to us and everyone around us. Karleen was a homemaker most of her life. Many people didn't think of this as a job, but we can tell you that she worked harder than any woman we know. She was up early to get her kids to school, was there to drive them home, make dinner, help with homework, and put them to bed. She made sure her children studied hard and always attended activities as a family. When her children were younger, they weren't' able to comprehend how much time and care she put into their family.

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