Karen Buus

Karen LuRaye Buus was born September 25, 1938, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was the middle child of five children born to William “Bert” Cragoe and Grace Erickson. Her family was poor and moved frequently while her father rented farms in Minnesota. Growing up during the Great Depression, she remembers having few clothes, no running water, and sharing the same bathwater once a week. Her mother sometimes stood in soup-kitchen lines to feed the family. Yet she remembers those years as the “good life” because children were free to play outside and did not expect much.

Karen attended a one-room country school through sixth grade and graduated from Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Minnesota in 1956. She was a tomboy who loved being around her brothers, playing in the hay, dressing up with her cousin, and spending time with family. She loved math, played drums in the school band, and dreamed of becoming a flight attendant.

Two days after graduating, at age 17, Karen married Vernon Louis Buus on June 2, 1956. Together, they raised six children: Rob, Bill, Joe, Lynn, Rhonda, and Vern. Karen loved being a stay-at-home mom and farmer’s wife. She said the hardest parts were tornadoes, floods, drought and sickness, but the greatest reward was watching her children grow.

Some of her favorite memories are the funny and memorable things her children did: Rob sleepwalking outside during a tornado, Bill turning up the thermostat while sleepwalking, Joe asking his dad endless questions while he shaved, Lynn cleaning the house as a surprise, Rhonda falling from a hay loft, and Vern always asking for his mother’s approval. She especially remembers the frightening moment when Vern stopped breathing after birth. After nearly losing him, she decided to name him Vernon.

Karen had a love for dancing, quilting and spending winters in Arizona. After Vern graduated from high school, Karen also became a Foreign Exchange Coordinator, and her and Vernon hosted several exchange students in their home.

Karen described herself as honest, caring, and a people-person. Her faith became important after attending Bible camp in seventh grade. She was a faithful servant of God and her church community was very important to her. She believed that a successful life was measured not by money, but by the love of family, the trust of others, and the way a person treats those around them.

More than anything, Karen hoped her children and grandchildren would remember her for the love and kindness she gave them. Family was the greatest source of meaning in her life, and being a mother and grandmother was what she believed she was meant to do.

Her final message to them was to be honest, live within your means, avoid jealousy, count your blessings, and work hard without forgetting to enjoy life and make time for family. She wanted the people she loved to appreciate each day and never take God's blessings for granted. Karen passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 87 years, 11 months, and 13 days.

Blessed be her memory!

She is lovingly remembered by her 6 children, 19 grandchildren,

32 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren:

Robert Buus of Luverne, MN: Crystal Brady – Mackenzie & Brock Voss (Great-Great Grandchild Levi), Megan Brady; Joshua & Amy Buus – Zachary & Joshua; Lindsey (fiancé Jared Narum) Davie – Olivia & Cady

William & Karen Buus of Harrisburg, SD: Ryan & Bethany Buus – Ellory, Hadley & Maeley; Stacie & Matt Douglas – Morgan, Jacob & Owen

Joe & Barb Buus of Taylors Falls, MN: Kari & Robert Vaughn – Griffin & Grace; Steven & Whitney Buus; Tami & Steven Coozennoy – Lucille & Eloise

Lynn & Eugene Modder of George, IA: Amanda & Andrew Sprock – Anderson & Ashlyn; Kaleb Modder; Kally (fiancé Wyatt Peters) Modder

Rhonda & Robert Hoting of Little Rock, IA: Ariella & Travis Woodward – Ryan, Logan, Coltan & Lilly Ann; Dylan (fiancé Kaitlyn Kraayenhof) Bucher – Cheyelene, Isaac, Jace & Keira; Mariah Buus; Mikeala Buus; Miley & Kori Hoting – Sophia & Keagan McCarty (Great-Great Grandchild Coyer), Carter & Finley; Kay & Dustin Simpson – Kylie, Ella & Andrew

Vernon & Debbra Buus of Sioux Falls, SD: Clayton Buus; Camille Buus

Sister: Janice & Jarnet Johansen of Hardwick, MN

Sister-in-laws: Jean Cragoe of Borrego Springs, CA & MaReese Cragoe of Luverne.

Brother-in-law: Marlin & Shari Buus of Luverne.

Special Friend: Charlie Berzins

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Vernon Buus on September 29, 2005; her parents Bert & Grace Cragoe; brothers Donald & Kenneth Cragoe and sister Judy and her spouse Arvid Ebeling; father & mother-in-law, Louis & Grace Buus; two brother-in-laws Raymond & Richard Buus; and special friend, Glenn Homandberg.