Karen K. Waldner
Karen Kay Waldner, age 60, of Hartford, South Dakota died Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 10 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be 5:00- 7:00 p.m., with an informal service at 7:00 p.m. to allow everyone to share memories, Wednesday, April 9 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory. Inurnment will be at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
Karen Kay (Cleveland) Waldner, passed away surrounded by her loving family and friends after a difficult battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Karen was born to Paul E Cleveland and Joan L (Hill) Cleveland on Wednesday October 7th, 1964 in Sioux Falls, SD. Karen attended public school in Sioux Falls, graduating from Lincoln High in May 1983. Karen obtained her Nursing degree from Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing in 1986. Karen’s nursing career took her to multiple hospitals and nursing homes. She joined Avera McKennan Hospital in February of 2001 and worked there until her passing.
Karen married Mark Rogers in May of 1989 and from that union they were blessed with 3 children, Aly, Hayley, and Andrew. In April of 2018 she married Phil Waldner, and they are living their lives by the rule of “You, Me and God.”
Karen cherished her time with her children and grandchildren. Andrew and Karen loved to watch their favorite TV shows, Blue Bloods and Hawaii 5-0 together. Enjoying football games Andrew played in was always important. Saturday morning coffee dates with Aly and Pax were often mentioned as the highlight of her week. She also loved watching Pax learn to play T-Ball and never missed a game. Pax lovingly nicknamed Grandma Karen as “Ama” as a baby, which Karen adored, and continued on once Adaline, her 2nd grandchild, was born in 2024. Hayley and Karen enjoyed bonding over their nursing experiences and were often each other's sounding board after tough days. Adaline loved video calling “Ama” and would give the biggest smiles when hearing “Ama” talk to her.
Karen also cherished her time with her best friends, Shelly and Steve and they were often referred to as “The Three Musketeers”. They went on many adventures in their teenage years, and looked forward to their weekly dinner dates to ‘odd’ restaurants that their spouses would never go to. Shelly and Steve have continued to play a very important role as friends during Karen’s cancer diagnosis, and have been an invaluable guidance to her three kids.
Karen spent time volunteering for the Compass Center in Sioux Falls by being a Rape Crisis Advocate, and more recently as a Court Watcher. She also attended Project Camp at Baptist Camp Judson in the Black Hills for many years, doing whatever tasks were needed that week to prepare the camp for the upcoming season.
Phil and Karen spent many hours of time together doing what they both loved; fishing, gardening, and cooking. Karen loved gardening with friends and canning all of the fruits of her gardening labors.
Karen grew up attending Judson Memorial Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church both in Sioux Falls and is now a member of Central Valley Community Church with her husband, Phil.
Grateful for sharing her life is her husband, Phil Waldner; mother, Joan Cleveland, Sioux Falls; daughters, Aly (Aaron) Johnson, Humboldt, SD, Hayley (Grant) Johnston, Omaha, NE, and son, Andrew Rogers, Hartford, SD; grandchildren, Paxton (Pax) Johnson and Adaline Johnston. Karen will also be missed by numerous friends, In-Laws and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her dad, Paul Cleveland; grandparents ,Rev. Sanford & Miriam Cleveland, Fred & Evangeline Hill.
Memorials can be directed to Hartford Area Food Pantry at Central Valley Church.