Karen Hill

Karen Ella (Johnson) Hill, 75, of Menahga, MN, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2025, surrounded by family at home. 

Born on December 8, 1949 to Merl and Irene (Kunz) Johnson in Detroit Lakes, MN. She graduated from Detroit Lakes Area High School in 1968 and continued her education at Moorhead State University where she met her husband, Ray. Karen graduated from MSU in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

She married Ray Ellsworth Hill Jr. on June 9, 1973, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes. They lived in Fargo and then Lake Park before settling in Menahga. 

Karen began her career as a social worker in Moorhead and Fargo with the majority spent at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids. Her kindness and empathy brought comfort to patients and their families for many years. She retired in 2013 and spent her post-retirement days enjoying travel and spending time with her large family.

Karen was a great cook and fantastic baker, particularly known for her homemade baked beans, delicious pies, and jams. She loved gardening and tending to her flowers even though the sandy soil of Menahga made it a challenge at times. She loved to play volleyball with family, softball in a league, and dancing with Ray over the years to 60s jitterbug music, even winning a dance competition. Later in life she developed a love of card making and the card making retreats accompanied by her twin sister, Kathy, and daughter, Erica. She also loved playing cards, particularly Sheephead and Canasta, with many siblings and relatives. Every family get-together had a card game going. 

Family was everything to her and Karen shared a very special bond with her twin sister, Kath. Even though they were forced to wear matching outfits during their formative years, they still managed to find matching outfits and accessories as adults during their epic shopping trips to Kohls. Two hundred physical miles may have separated their homes but they were always in touch and shared several hobbies and interests. They began their life in the womb together and Kath was at her side at the end of Karen’s life as well.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Merl and Irene (Kunz) Johnson. 

She is survived by her husband Ray Hill, their children: Ray/RJ (Ulrica) Hill, Cassandra/Cissy (Todd) Lowell, Erica (Jim) Austad, and Ryan Hill; 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren with more to come. Survived also by her siblings: twin-Kath Remmers, Merl (Deb) Johnson, Sue Johnson, Shirley Johnson, Mike Johnson, Deb (Randy) Januszewski, Diane Johnson, Beth Johnson and 9 nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service: 2:00pm, Saturday, February 22, 2025 at David-Donehower Funeral Home                                                    Visitation: 12:00-2:00pm prior to the service