Karen Elaine Rossow

Karen Elaine (Westberg) Rossow was born in Escanaba, Michigan on May 30, 1940 to Glen L and Mildred (Wullum) Westberg. She had a very strong Christian faith and was given a priceless gift of going home shortly before dawn on Easter morning, March 31, 2013. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the Grace Lutheran Church, 1061 Sherman St, Sturgis South Dakota with Pastor Skip Smith officiating. On Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. a service will be held at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 203 W Flying Circle, Gillette Wyoming with Pastor Tom Frey officiating.Karen graduated from Sturgis High School in 1958. After starting her family she went to nursing school and started her nursing career in Broadus, Montana. In May 1990, she graduated from R.N. school at the age of 50; the same year her daughter, Gay Rossow, graduated from college. In 1997, Karen was one of the founders of the Northern Black Hills hospice program. She believed in treating her patients with compassion; her specialty was in controlling pain in the terminally ill. Her love for people and nursing was reflected in a photo she took of a married couple in hospice. That photo won 1st place in 2005 with the National Hospice Organization. Her hobbies included making homemade cinnamon rolls, counted cross stitch, painting, puzzles and was an avid reader. Traveling to see the ocean and islands was her favorite getaway. This fall she enjoyed Alaska with her twin daughters, Kay and Gay. She had recently started as an outreach volunteer at the Campbell County Library in Gillette, Wyoming. It meant the world to her to help people. History was another one of her passions. She loved listening to people tell their stories about the past and she spent many years researching the history of Whitewood. Karen wrote articles on a regular basis for the local paper sharing the uncovered history.Karen is survived by her mother, Mildred Westberg; daughters: Kalina Petersen of Gillette Wyoming, Kay Rossow of Great Falls, Montana, and Gay (Scott McClintic) Rossow of Cameron, Montana; sons: Bill (Myrna) Rossow of Sturgis, South Dakota, Tim (Michelle) Rossow of Helena Montana; her sister, Kathy Hinckley of Westminster, Colorado; three brothers; Gerald L (Brigitte) Westberg of Gladstone Oregon, Tony (Alona) Westberg of Whitewood, South Dakota, Jeff (Julie) Westberg of Whitewood, South Dakota; six grandchildren, one great grandson and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father. Hospice meant the world to her and ironically she spent her final days in the Close To Home Hospice House in Gillette, Wyoming.In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made to your local hospice program in her honor. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716