Karen Fenner – Arlington

July 14, 1949 – Aug. 14, 2017

Posted

After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Karen Ruth Fenner, 68, died Monday, Aug. 14, surrounded by her family and friends.

Funeral services are at 10:30 am. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington. Visitation is at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Johnson Henry Funeral Home assisted in the arrangements.

Karen was born July 14, 1949, in Sioux Falls, the first child to John and Ruth Henry. She was educated in the Arlington School District, graduating in 1967. She continued her education at Northern State University in Aberdeen.

It was at this time that she met the love of her life, Jerry. They were married Dec. 12, 1969. They had two children, Jamie and Stacy.

Karen was employed by AAFES in Sioux Falls from 1969 until 1974, at which time she and Jerry and their family headed back north. She was employed as the office manager at Jensen and Gast Implement in Arlington from 1974 until 1983.

In 1983, she was hired at Citizens State Bank in Arlington. She continued working there for the next 33-plus years, until in June of this year, when her illness progressed.

Karen loved her job and the people she worked with. She held many positions with CSB over the years, with the internal auditor title being the last.  

Karen was very active in her church, and held many different positions within Trinity.

Most recently, she served as treasurer. She spent many a Sunday as a Sunday school teacher, sharing her strong faith with her students. Many will remember her running the sound and making sure all who came to worship were able to hear the message and always felt welcome. Her faith and her love for her church were undeniable.

She was also very active in her community, having held many positions within the Community Club and the Development Corporation. She spent many hot summer nights making sure the Arlington Days celebration was a success.

She was instrumental in starting youth bowling and continued bowling until she was unable to due to her cancer. Karen was inducted into the Arlington Bowling Association Hall of Fame and in February 2017.

She was honored as Arlington's Person of the Year. Next to her family, Karen's love for camping and spending time in the Sylvan pulling spinners with Jerry was her favorite pastime. She holds the Fenner family record with the walleye she caught and mounted.

Karen and Jerry purchased a Harley Davidson motorcycle and took a few trips to Sturgis and a very memorable trip to Platte and along the scenic river in the summer of 2016 after her diagnosis.

She was involved in her children's lives and activities.

She always saw the good in someone and very seldom had a bad day.

She always said that someone had it worse than her, and cherished each day. Karen never let the disease get the best of her. She would always say that she was not sick; she just had cancer.

She is survived by her husband Jerry; her children: Jamie (Stacey) Fenner and Stacy (Ric) Kruse; four grandchildren; four great-granddaughters; sisters: Joanne Jaeger and Shirley (Les) Rowen; and little brother Curt (Jodie) Henry; sister-in-law Vicki (Mike) Hemmestad; Todd (Rita) Fenner; and Brad (Rhonda) Fenner; along with numerous extended family members and friends.