Karen Ann Dutcher

Karen Dutcher, age 74, of Balaton, Minnesota, died unexpectedly on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at her home. Funeral Services are 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 12, 2024, at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balaton. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton. Following the burial, a reception will be held at the Balaton Community Center. Visitation will be held one hour prior to her celebration, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., on Friday, also at the church.

Karen Ann Krueger was born on August 2, 1949, in Tyler, Minnesota. She was the daughter of William Sr. and Fern (Sigurdson) Krueger. Karen was baptized as an infant and confirmed in her youth at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balaton, Minnesota. She grew up in Garvin yet attended school in Balaton, graduating with the high school class there in 1967. She immediately went on to college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, where she trained to be a nurse.

Karen soon gave birth to her first child, Chad, and was later married to Robert Dutcher in 1972 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The couple soon added a daughter, Dawn, and the family then moved to back to Balaton. Karen remained in Balaton and was a long-time nurse at Colonial Manor Nursing Home until her retirement when that facility closed.

Karen's enjoyments in life included spending time on Lake Yankton and Lake Sarah, heading downtown to converse with friends at the bar, and giving in to her addiction to Sudoku puzzles.

Karen Dutcher died unexpectedly on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at her home. She had reached the age of 74 years, 4 months, and 28 days. Blessed be her memory.

She is survived by her son, Chad (and Angela) Dutcher of Emmett, ID; son-in-law, David Lanners of Marshall; 5 grandchildren, Brianna (and Richard Wallen) Dutcher of Emmett, ID, Anthony Dutcher of Marshall, Jason Dutcher of Hartland, WI, Ta'Mara Poudyal of Marshall, Carol (and Nick) Petersen of Wood Lake; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Krueger of Jesup, GA; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Fern Kruger; daughter, Dawn Lanners; and ex-husband, Robert Dutcher.