Karen L. Kinney, 85, Sturgis, SD, died Thursday, September 14, 2023 at Monument Health Rapid City, SD.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 20, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sturgis, SD.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Sept. 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Sturgis United Methodist Church.
Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.
Karen L. Kinney, 85, passed away Thursday September 14, 2023 at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Karen Leota Lee was born August 19, 1938 to Lloyd & Bernadene (Howie) Lee in Terraville, SD, at her aunt’s house. She was named for her Great Aunt who was from Norway. Karen joined her twin sisters Dolores & Donna to live in Stoneville, SD. Later she would be joined by her sister Sandra, and brother Lucky.
Many days were spent on the farm bringing in cows and riding horses, and of course there were many chores that needed to be completed. She attended 1st – 8th grade at Stoneville, then spent her Freshman and Sophomore years of school at Rapid City Central, boarding in the apartment attached to Aunt Zula’s house. She then graduated High School in Lead where she completed her Junior and Senior years. During those two years, Karen lived at Aunt Florence’s house in Terraville, because back in those days you didn’t get to go home on the weekends, only for the summers and holidays.
Terraville was where she met the love of her life, Eugene Oscar Kinney. They married on August 21, 1956 and spent the next 67 years living a happy, eventful life together. Three children were born to this union: Wendy, Rod, & Kathy.
They lived in Terraville until the fall of 1966 when they moved to Stoneville where Karen ran their store, gardened, and raised chickens. In 1973 they all packed up and moved to Sturgis. There she would work various jobs until she became a bank teller and would retire at the age of 74.
Karen was a member of the United Methodist Church; belonged to Eastern Star and was a Worthy Matron many times; a member of Daughters of the Nile; and Guardian of Job’s Daughters.
She was the light of Gene’s, her children’s, and grandchildren’s lives. Wife, Mom, & Grandma will be greatly missed.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
