Karen Ann Vietor, age 84, of Dell Rapids, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Dells Area Health Center in Dell Rapids. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the Reformed Church in Dell Rapids. Visitation will be from 4:30-7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids, with a prayer service and time of sharing beginning at 7:00 PM. A private burial will be in the Chancellor Reformed Cemetery, Chancellor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dell Rapids Community Hospital Foundation.
Karen was born at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. on October 6, 1941, to Wessel and Wilma (Wittrock) Rippentrop. She grew up on a farm near Tea, S.D. attended country school, and graduated from Lennox High School in 1959. She then attended the Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing, earning her registered nurse degree. On July 3, 1963, she married Rodney Vietor at the Germantown Presbyterian Church near Chancellor. They settled in Dell Rapids where Karen dedicated 43 years to caring for her community members at the Dell Rapids Hospital.
Karen was an active member of the Reformed Church in Dell Rapids where she was involved in all activities and was a member of Christian Women, as well as being known as the “Craft Teacher” on Wednesday night kid’s club. She was a talented artist and loved to display her paintings and was active in the Paint & Palette Club. She enjoyed sewing, flower gardening, writing poetry, and loved helping others with random acts of kindness. But most of all she loved her family and was always the #1 fan at her children’s and grandchildren’s activities.
Karen is survived by her children: Grant (Bonita) Vietor, Sioux Center, IA, Genell (Joseph) Schuh, Raleigh, NC, Julie (Richard) Fuglsang, Brooklyn Park, MN, and Greg (Charlene) Vietor, Parker, SD; grandchildren: Nicholas (Michelle) Schuh, Manhattan, KS, Moriah (Carter) Johnsen, Sioux Center, IA, Madeline (Branden) Boyd, Sioux Falls, SD, Jacob Vietor, Parker, SD, Jordan (McKenzi) Schuh, Greensboro, NC, Isaac (Annie) Vietor, Hull, IA, Gabrielle Schuh, Atlanta, GA, Jenna Fuglsang, St. Louis Park, MN, Christian (Ella Frederick) Vietor, Lincoln, NE, Rachael (Brendan Schumacher) Vietor, Durango, CO, Hannah Schuh, Raleigh, NC, and Ryan Fuglsang, Brooklyn Park, MN; great grandchildren, Macie and Lenna Boyd, Beckham Johnsen, Leighton Vietor, and Mason and Caroline Schuh; siblings: Wesley Dean (Cinda) Rippentrop, Chancellor, SD, Allen (Kathy) Rippentrop, Tea, SD, and Joan (Glenn) Muller, Davis, SD; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wessel and Wilma Rippentrop, and her husband, Rodney Vietor on January 21, 2013.
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