Karen Ann Moore passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025 at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD at the age of 88.
She was born May 15, 1937, in Sioux Falls, SD to Thomas E.W.B. Moore and Gertrude Barnhart Moore. She graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls in 1954. She earned her nursing degree from Methodist Hospital School for Nurses in Sioux City, Iowa in 1959 and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at St. Mary’s School for Nurse Anesthetists in Duluth, Minnesota in 1961.
She served as a medical missionary with the Presentation Sisters at Altamirano, Chiapas, Mexico with the Wycliff Bible Translators before returning to the US in the mid 70s. She served as a CRNA in hospitals in the Astoria, Oregon area for nearly two decades before returning to South Dakota to work at Winner Regional Hospital in 1990. She retired in 2004 and moved to Sturgis, SD in 2016.
Beyond her medical career, Karen was a woman of deep faith and wide-ranging talents. A proud Lutheran and Episcopalian, she was also an avid musician who often played guitar or bass for church services, accompanied by her dear friend Sarah Nelson on guitar. A devoted fan of bluegrass music, she attended countless festivals and found joy in the energy and camaraderie of live performances.
Karen was a gifted artist and leather artisan, known for her sharp eye, skilled hands, and unique sense of humor. Her loved ones treasure her lifelike pencil drawings of their favorite animals and the whimsical cartoons that still sit on desks and mantels, each one infused with her perspective and wit.
She had a lifelong love for horses and dogs, always surrounding herself with quality horses and good dogs that matched her high standards and deep affection. A proud member of the NRA and South Dakota Outdoor Women, Karen loved the outdoors and could often be found camping or kayaking in state and national parks throughout South Dakota.
Her family and friends will miss her curiosity and genuine engagement with life.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Patricia Mary Nachtigal; her brother-in-law, Ralph Nachtigal, and her great niece Sophia Wynn Broberg. She is survived by her longtime best friend, Sarah Nelson; her nieces, Monica Nachtigal of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Julie Broberg of Denmark, as well as her great-nephews Owen and Finnegan West and her great-niece Sabin Broberg.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9 at the Episcopal Church in Sturgis, SD. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Karen’s life of compassion, dedication and grace.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
