Karen Page

Dates

Obituary

Karen Page, 85, of Artesian, SD, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Monday, March 24, at Fedora Endeavor Presbyterian Church in Fedora, SD. Burial will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian, SD. Visitation will be Sunday, March 23, from 1-3:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Karen Ann Page was born December 23, 1939, to Clarence and Gladys (Schopp) Wittrock in Canistota, SD. When Karen was born, she was so small that she was put in a shoe box and would be placed in the oven to stay warm. She graduated from Fedora High School in 1958. She attended the Methodist Hospital Nursing Program, graduating in 1959 as an LPN. 

Karen married Donald Page on October 25, 1959, at the Lutheran Church in Howard, SD. After their marriage, Karen bought a sewing machine and would go on to sew all the children’s clothing for many years. She started with a treadle sewing machine until she was able to purchase an electric one.  She even sewed many of the girls’ prom dresses. In her later years, she enjoyed sewing numerous pillowcase dresses for a church mission project.

Karen always made sure everyone that came to the house left with full bellies, even when that meant killing a chicken for the visiting friends from the city. At one time, she even had one of her raisin bar recipes published in the South Dakota High Liner Magazine.  Karen enjoyed gardening, canning, and working alongside Don with the pigs. She traveled on 31 trips to the NFR, numerous bus trips across the US, Ireland, Alaska, Panama Canal, Canada, and Mexico. She served on the Artesian United Methodist Church board, was a member of the church circle, and the Road Runner Club. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Artesian, SD until its closing, and was a current member of the Presbyterian Church of Fedora.

Karen is survived by her husband, Donald Page; children, Kevin Page (Crystal) of Artesian, SD, Diana Larson (Dean) of Flandreau, SD, Patty Juhnke (Stacey) of Chamberlain, SD, and Julie Peek (Jess) of Parker, CO; grandchildren Kayla Page, Kelli (Jacob) Palmer, Ashley (Brad) Heyne, Shelby (Cy) Barnes, Katie (Michael) Geidel, Mandy (Nathan) Streich, Colton Peek, Cannon Peek, and Charlotte Peek; great grandchildren Tegan, Lila, Anna, Wyatt, Tenley, Oliver, Brinley, Shaley, and Waylon;  brothers, Roger Wittrock of Colorado Springs, CO, Doug Wittrock of Ridge Crest, CA, and Barb Kunkle of San Antonio, TX.

She is preceded in death by her two sons, Robert Wayne and Dennis Eugene; parents Clarence and Gladys Wittrock; parents-in-law Thelma and Maynard Page; sisters-in-law Judy Wittrock and Pauline Hohn; and brothers-in-law Darrel Page, Raymond Page, Rick Page and Tom Page.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice where it can do some good in her memory.

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