Karen Rhorer

Karen K. Rhorer, age 73, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, South Dakota, with Reverend Katie Ricke officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral on Thursday at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home.

Karen K. Rhorer was born July 13, 1951, in Nampa, Idaho to Howard and Lou Anne (Young) Grimme. She grew up on a farm between Springfield and Tyndall, South Dakota. She attended country school and graduated from Bon Homme High School in Tyndall and then attended the University of South Dakota at Springfield. She began working at the Tyndall Nursing Home and then worked at Gurney’s Seed and Nursery in Yankton. While also waitressing at The Villiager Bar and Restaurant by Lewis and Clark Lake she met a special bartender, Michael Rhorer. Karen and Mike were married on June 9, 1974, in Tyndall, South Dakota. After their first son was born, Karen began operating a daycare out of her home, which she operated for over 35 years. She was a baby whisperer and took pride in providing a safe and nurturing home for countless children over the years.

Karen loved family and kids were her life, whether it was her own kids or grandkids or her daycare kids. She kept a spotless home and attended many auctions and garage sales to provide endless toys for the daycare. She enjoyed gardening, flowers (especially her roses), baking cookies and bread, was famous for her buttered noodles and enjoyed a good margarita with sugar on the rim. She also enjoyed taking drives to the lake and spending time out on the family farm. She was very artsy and loved spending time painting pottery and decorating wreaths for the holidays. She volunteered while her children were in sports, working in the concession stand and fundraising for the Booster Club. She had a great smile a wonderful caring heart.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Rhorer of Yankton; two sons: Michael (Kristen) Rhorer of Northville, Michigan and Justin (Sarah) Rhorer of Overland Park, Kansas; five grandchildren: Claire, Reid and Logan Rhorer and Jack and Emily Rhorer; two brothers: Raymond (Pat) Grimme and James (Pam) Grimme; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Lou Anne Grimme and brother, Harvey Grimme.