NO SERVICES IN DEVILS LAKE SO UNABLE TO ACCEPT ANY FLORAL MEMORIALS.

KAREN R KIESZ

Karen R Kiesz passed away on December 3rd 2025 in Select Specialty Hospital of Fort Myers, FL, due to complications of a stroke and heart disease. Karen’s health had been declining for a couple of years so she had moved to Ft. Myers to be near family.

Karen was born 08/22/1945 the oldest of seven children born to Harold and Margaret (Swenson) Kiesz of Golden Valley, ND. She started 1st grade a couple of weeks after her 5th birthday. The rural school south of Golden Valley was 1 student short and her early start allowed it to stay open. At the age of 12 the Kiesz family moved to Stanton, ND. Karen joined every activity available. She was in band, theatre and a choir member, cheerleader, reporter and later, editor of the Stanton school newspaper. She was chosen to attend Girls State. At age 16 she graduated as Valedictorian of her class.

Karen briefly attended Minot State college and then started working as an administrative assistant at Basin Electric, Stanton. Minneapolis, MN was her next destination where she worked for several years for CAT Transfer as an administrative assistant. In 1975 she moved to California to live in the Seal Beach, Long Beach, and Naples areas. She worked for Dunn and Bradstreet in sales for 25 years and won 3 National Sales awards for her Excellence. While working she enrolled in classes from which she graduated with a Masters in Business Administration. Her true calling in life was obtaining her realtors license after her retirement from D&B. She was an outgoing, people person, met many friends for life, and had many repeat sales until retirement from real estate.

Growing up Karen was a kind, wonderful sister to her siblings. She always had a plan to create fun. Going to the park, keeping us active and busy, swimming in the Missouri river potholes (when the folks were out of town). We always felt special and very well loved. She always said those were the best years of her life!

Karen never had children of her own. She was a kind, wonderful aunt to her nieces, nephews, and their friends. She treated them to camps, trips to California, Disneyland, sailing. She always treated them to at least one big shopping trip at the mall on her trips back home.

Karen lived life to the fullest! She loved to travel and visited many countries all over the world. She volunteered at El Rancho Historical Society as a docent. She was always a big advocate of women and children rights.

Karen was preceded in death by her mother, father, stepfather Cliff, sister Carol (Willis) Sailer, all of her aunts and uncles, and numerous cousins.

She is survived by her brothers Harold (Christine), Robley, Bruce, sisters Lynelle (Wes) Dick, Kim (Christopher)Brown and brother-in-law Willis Sailer. She also leaves behind 6 nieces, 7 nephews and their families.