Karen Spencer

Karen Spencer, of Dawson, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2019 at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson at the age of 63.

Memorial services will be held Friday, March 22, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson.  Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate, and burial will be at a later date in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday, March 22.

Karen Marie Anderson was born August 6, 1955 at the Dawson, MN hospital to Weldon and Doris (Fundingsland) Anderson.  She was baptized at Riverside Lutheran Church and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson.  Karen graduated from Dawson-Boyd High School in 1973.  She was united in marriage to Doug Saathoff in 1975.  Later on in life she was united in marriage to Dean Spencer in 2007.

Karen worked for the city assessor of Brookings, SD and when the offices combined she worked for the Brookings County Director of Equalization, where she worked for 19 years.  In 1997 Karen was employed by the Moody County Director of Equalization as the Deputy Director of Equalization, for 15 years. Karen and Dean relocated Dawson in 2012 where Karen accepted the position of office manager at Grace Lutheran Church, a position she thoroughly enjoyed.  However in April, 2015 she was forced to retire because of Myasthenic Breast Cancer that also spread to her bones. 

Karen enjoyed going on trail rides and showing her horses.  She took joy in taking her Convertible Mustang out on drives. Karen also was a talented quilter and cross stitcher. 

Karen is survived by her father, Weldon; husband, Dean; son, Cody (April) Saathoff of Overbrook, OK; step-children, Brett (Jess) Spencer, Shan (Sharla) Spencer, Kelly (Brad) Kontz; step-grandchildren: Stephanie, Brittany, Kyle, Riley, Blake, Madison, Jackson, Tyler, Laney, and Emmy; step-great-grandchildren: Marlee, Solvi, Avley; her favorite aunt, Arlyce; and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Doris; her maternal and paternal grandparents; and many aunts and uncles.