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Surrounded by her loving family, Karen Nelson Requist, at the age of 86, peacefully passed away Oct. 21, 2024, in Sioux Falls, S.D.
She was born Oct. 3, 1938, in Red Oak, to Carl Harry and Lila Olivia (Anderson) Nelson. She grew up on the family farm near Red Oak and graduated from Red Oak High School and the University of Iowa.
Karen married Charles Dennis Requist June 22, 1963, in Red Oak. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Illinois, St. Louis and Connecticut, before moving to Storm Lake in 1972, where they then lived for 34 years raising their four children.
Actively involved in the Storm Lake community, Karen was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, P.E.O. chapter NL, and she enjoyed playing cards as a member of the local bridge club. After raising their children, she and Dennis moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., to be near Duke and Reagan. In Sioux Falls, she was a member of Peace Lutheran Church.
Even though family was the cornerstone of Karen’s life, she also spent time working as a teacher and substitute teacher throughout her life helping to nurture and inspire the children in her community. Her legacy of love, strength and compassion will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Karen is survived by her husband Dennis; her four children and six grandchildren: John (wife Jill) Requist of Des Moines; Duke Requist (child Reagan) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Eric (wife Beth) Requist (children, Ella Gray and Claire) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and Sara (husband Tom) Requist Meyers (children: Lauren, Brooks and Audrey) of Omaha, Neb.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Lila; three siblings: Harry Nelson, Barbara Lundgren and Annette Anderson; and one grandchild, Hudson Thomas Meyers.
Both Karen and Dennis have asked to be cremated and to have a joint memorial service to be held in the future at the time of her husband’s death. Both of their cremated remains will be laid to rest together at that time in the columbarium at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery located north of Sioux Falls.
