Karen Monson, age 69, of Valley City, ND passed away Sunday, May 16th at Mercy Hospital, Valley City, under the care of hospice with her husband beside her. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM Friday, May 21st at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 20th at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday evening at the Church. Interment will be in St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery, Valley City, ND.
Karen Dreher was born August 15th, 1951 in New Rockford ND, the second child of Glenn and Betty (Wilhelmi) Dreher. She grew up and graduated from Grace City High School and then received an elementary teaching degree from VCSU where she met her future husband Dick Monson. Karen taught in Jud, ND and at St. Joseph’s in Devils Lake before her marriage. She then taught kindergarten at St. Catherine’s Catholic School, in total for 27 years in the classroom and then did substitute teaching as needed. Her small students were the focus of her working life and she enjoyed them immensely and they returned the favor. Karen married Dick Monson July 2nd, 1976 in Valley City where they made their home on their farm west of Valley City for their married life. Besides her teaching Karen loved the natural world around her and marveled at the beauty of nature. Karen and Dick would walk their dogs beside Hobart Lake as many evenings as possible to watch the sunsets across the water. Karen put a bench in her pollinator garden where she could watch the butterflies and laugh at the bumblebees as they landed on the flowers. She had a wide circle of good friends and was a strong believer in her Catholic faith. Karen was very grateful to the wonderful medical staff of Roger Marris Cancer Center who gave her almost 4 more good years than was expected. The community of her church wrapped her in their love and support as she went through cancer treatment. At the end she held out until Sunday morning when she passed to our Lord.
Karen is survived by her husband, Dick Monson, and sisters Char (Paul Donohue), Valley City, Marla (Robert Nelsen), Cando, ND, brother in law Jon Boggetto, Valley City, and sister in law Beverly, (Robert Loken) Valley City.
She was preceded in death by her sister Rosemary and parents Glenn and Betty Dreher.
Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home of Valley City. An online guestbook is available and livestreaming of Karen’s service will be held at www.lerudschuldt.com