Karen Johnson

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

  Karen Johnson was born Feb. 4, 1941, to Albert and Alvina Eggers at Sauk Center, Minn. Several years later, the family moved to Swea City, Iowa, where her father ran the local Gambles store. The family then moved to Mitchell, S.D., where she graduated from Mitchell High School in 1959. After her graduation, the family moved again, this time to Custer, S.D., and she attended Black Hills State Teachers College in Spearfish, S.D. After earning her teaching degree in 1963, she taught in Sturgis, Ft. Pierre and Hot Springs, all in South Dakota.  In 1969, she married James C. Johnson of Volin, S.D., and they had one daughter, Brenda. They lived in both Custer and Hot Springs while her husband worked for the Forest Service and she worked as a substitute teacher. After her husband’s sudden death in 1978, Karen went back to school to begin a new career in law. After graduating from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1982, she moved back to her beloved Custer, where she served as the deputy states attorney. Eventually, she ran for Custer County States Attorney and became the longest serving states attorney in Custer County history. She was heavily involved in Democratic politics, Business and Professional Women, Lions Club, WEAVE and her church, serving in many capacities over the years.  Karen died Feb. 18, 2009, at Fountain Springs Healthcare in Rapid City, S.D., after a long battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder. She was 68. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Brenda (Jim) Haar and grandchildren Emily, Catherine, Thomas and William Haar of Rapid City; brother, Gene Eggers of Sand Springs, Okla.; nephews, Neil (Patti) Eggers of Birmingham, Ala., and Brian of Golden, Colo. Funeral services were Feb. 23 at Custer Lutheran Fellowship  with Pastors Jim Lindekugel and Kent Narum officiating. Burial followed at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be directed to Custer WEAVE or to the Society for PSP in order to advance research in this debilitating disorder. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.