Karen Freed
Karen Freed, 67, of Watford City, N.D., died at the St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, N.D., on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. At the family’s request, cremation will take place and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2010, at First Lutheran Church in Watford City. Pastor Chris Montgomery will officiate. Friends may share condolences and memories with the family online at www.fulkersons.com.
Karen was born July 13, 1942, in Williston to Arthur and Frances Kinden. She grew up on the family farm south of Watford City. As a young girl, she attended country school with her mother being her teacher. She graduated from Watford City High School in 1960 and attended one year of college in Rapid City, S.D.
On July 7, 1961, she married Kenny Freed. They lived in town and later on the Kennedy Ranch at Demmik Lake. She always said that this was where she learned to cook. She often told the story of branding a week after moving there and how she would never have gotten everyone fed had it not been for the help of Florence Johnsrud. She loved living there and made many lasting friendships during this time.
In 1965, Karen was able to move “home” to the place where she had grown up. A few years later, they purchased the land from her parents. She worked as hard as Kenny to make a success of it. In the early years, she spent many hours in the field raking hay, summer fallowing, or driving grain truck. She loved animals and spent as much time as the rest of us making sure the cattle were taken care of. She cherished the memories of working cattle with the help of neighbors and friends and shared many hours of “Bull Stories.”
Karen enjoyed sewing and photography, and was a Mary Kay consultant for many years. In recent years, she enjoyed hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail with her friend, Lauri, and daughter, Carole.
Karen is survived by her daughter, Carole Freed of Watford City, and her friend, Clint; two brothers, Keith Kinden and Kurtis (Toni) Kinden, both of Libby, Mont.; one uncle, Donald (Corrine) Johnson of Cameron, Mo.; two aunts, Lorraine Vorderbruggen and Pearl Kinden of New Town, N.D.; four nieces; two nephews and four great-nephews; and numerous cousins and many cherished friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenny, on May 16, 2010; and by her parents.
Friends may sign a register book at the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Watford City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, and an hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.