Karen Evans

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Karen M. Evans, 72, of Miller, passed away Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller after a year and a half battle with cancer. 

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2021  at Reck Funeral Home, Miller with Brian Jones, officiating.  Burial will be at the St. Lawrence Cemetery at a later date.  A visitation will be held an hour prior to service at the funeral home.

If you are unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Karen Marie Keelin was born in Huron, South Dakota to Ray and Florence (Frigge) Keelin on June 30, 1948, the oldest of four siblings.  She grew up in Huron, attending Catholic school.  She spent her summers at Lake Byron, riding horse with local friends, and making memories she was very fond of.

She later met and married Richard Sterret and to this union they were blessed with two children, Deborah and Michael. 

In 1972, while working for Virgil Lip at the Lips Café and Lounge, she met and fell in love with the love of her life, Jimmie Evans.  They were united in marriage at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on May 12, 1973.  This union brought them another blessing, David. 

Karen worked various jobs in her lifetime.  She was a loving housewife and a firm but protective mother.  She was a reporter for the Miller Press, sold Avon, an employee for Game, Fish and Parks at Lake Louise, a secretary for the Miller Central Speedway Association and a rural mail carrier for United States Postal Service.

After surviving breast cancer, she and local survivors, formed a cancer support group which would later become the local Relay for Life Program.  As an avid gardener, Karen and Jimmie enjoyed the fruits of their large gardens as well as many flowers.  She ran Evans Construction and Evans Properties with her husband and did the bookkeeping until the day she died.  Karen had an uncanny ability to save money and pinch pennies in order to help her family through hard times.  Jimmie would often say, “I wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for her”.

Karen is survived by her three children: Deborah (David) Roth of Mesa, AZ, Mike Evans of Sioux Falls, and David Evans of Miller; four grandchildren: Heidi Roth, Shane Evans, Laura Evans, and Justin Evans; three great grandchildren: Eric Jr., Andres and Kayden; and sister, Mary (Paul) Johnson. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie Evans; parents: Florence and Ray Keelin; brothers: Boyd and Gary; and granddaughter, Ashley. 

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Karen’s arrangements.