Karen S. Johnson

Karen Sue Johnson, 71, of Groton, SD, died Sunday, September 14, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen.

Karen Sue Redlinger was born June 5, 1954, to John Marvin and Lola Mae (Burt) Redlinger in Columbus, OH. Her family moved to San Diego, CA and then to Seattle, WA. She grew up and attended school in Seattle, WA where Karen met the Johnson clan. She graduated from West Seattle High school in 1972.

On June 8, 1972, Karen was united in marriage to Clayton Johnson in Seattle. They moved several times including Wyoming, Minnesota, California, Washington, and finally to South Dakota in 1991. Karen earned an accounting degree from Lake Area Tech in Watertown, SD.

Karen was mostly a stay-at-home mom and grammy-nanny. After raising her own four children, she took in four of her grandchildren. She was a very talented seamstress and sewed clothes for herself and many of her family members, and even doll clothes. She enjoyed crafting, crocheting, cross stitching, and knitting. Most of the things she made were given away. She also loved reading and attending church when she was able.

Grateful for having shared Karen’s life are her husband: Clayton; her children: Kari Johnson, Tara (Clint) Fjelstad, Tami Johnson, and Mari (Aaron) Sundberg; her grandchildren: Kyle Kohrs, Kaitlin Kohrs, Kelli Kohrs, Kimberly (Jesse) Chandler, Nathan (Jessea) Fjelstad, Jenifer Fjelstad, Trystian (Nikki) Johnson-Sanders, Veronica Johnson, Gabriella Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Rebekah Sundberg, Caralyn Sundberg, and Scarlett Sundberg; her great-grandchildren: Ronnie Gruenstein, Clayton Kohrs, and Eliana Fjelstad; and her siblings: Gloria Bertsch, John Paul (Bonnie) Redlinger, Chuck Jason Redlinger, and Orval (Elizabeth) Redlinger.

Preceding Karen in death are her parents: John Marvin Redlinger, Lola Mae (Richard) Iverson, and her brother William Edward ‘Ed’ Redlinger.

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