Karen Ann O’Brien was born on May 31, 1949, in Cedar Rapids, IA to Ivan “Reed” Harris and Patty Bryan Harris. On October 13, 2026, Karen entered eternal rest, leaving behind a lifetime of cherished memories, remarkable accomplishments and countless lives touched by her kindness and generosity.


Karen grew up and lived in White River, SD. She graduated from White River High School in 1967 and married David O’Brien on June 29th, 1967. Together, they built a life filled with love, hard work, adventure, and raising 6 children.


Karen and David made their home north of Cedar Butte, where they raised their family on the ranch. Although ranch life was new to Karen, she embraced it wholeheartedly. She quickly learned to drive tractors, put up hay, plant crops, raise beef and dairy cattle, butcher chickens, and tackle whatever chores needed to be done.

Karen was a true entrepreneur with an incredible work ethic. She sold milk, cream, butter, and fresh eggs; each summer she raised and butchered as many as 500 chickens to sell. She took great pride in her vegetable gardens, growing an abundance of produce she canned and generously shared with others. Her beautiful flower beds surrounding the family home were another source of pride and one of her favorite pastimes.


In their early years together, Karen and David developed a love for motorcycle riding and traveling. They shared countless adventures with friends, exploring much of the western United States on their motorcycles. Whether taking a long road trip or simply enjoying a beautiful summer evening with a quick ride, Karen treasured these moments with David.


When the older kids reached high school, Karen returned to her childhood home. Her entrepreneurial spirit soon led her to open a daycare business, where she spent many years caring for young children and providing a home away from home for high school students who lived outside of town. Many of those children came to know and love her as “Gram.” a name that would become one of her most cherished titles. Even while caring for others, she continued to enjoy gardening, canning and tending to her flower beds during weekends and summer months.


Karen’s lifelong dedication to helping others began in 1976 when she completed her first responder training. She became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1989 and a paramedic in 2006. What began as an interest soon became one of her greatest passions.


For many years, Karen served as the Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMT) for Mellette County. She was deeply committed not only to helping people during emergencies but also to teaching others how to save lives. She traveled throughout South Dakota teaching EMT courses at all levels, CPR certification classes, and first aid training. She took tremendous pride in sharing her knowledge and experience, knowing that every person she trained could make a difference in someone else’s life. Her years in EMS were among her proudest accomplishments, and she loved sharing stories of those experiences.


Never one to stop learning, Karen attended classes and earned her bachelor's degree in Business from Sinte Gleska University in Mission, SD. Her education strengthened her entrepreneurial spirit and inspired her to become even more involved in serving Mellette County.


Karen served as the Mellette County Register of Deeds, a position she held until her retirement. She genuinely enjoyed the people who walked through her office doors, whether they came for county business or simply stopped to visit. She always had time for a conversation and valued the friendships she made along the way.


She also served as Mellette County Coroner for many years, providing compassion, understanding, and support to families during some of their most difficult moments.


Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Karen became the Mellette County Emergency Manager, continuing her lifelong commitment to helping others. She completed extensive state training and shared her knowledge and experience with other counties as they developed their programs. She served in this role until late 2025, when she was diagnosed with cancer.

Even while facing her own health challenges, her dedication to her community and her desire to help others never faded.


Karen believed that being part of a community meant giving back to it. Throughout her life, she volunteered time and talents to numerous organizations, including the Volunteer Fire Department, Bountiful Baskets, and Feeding South Dakota. If there was a need, Karen was often among the first to step forward.


Karen had a remarkable ability to turn her hobbies and talents into small businesses, often finding ways to help others along the way. She was an exceptionally talented quilter whose beautiful creations were admired near and far, Star quilts were her specialty and her favorite to make, although she was always willing to create whatever quilt someone requested. Over the years, she spent countless hours carefully crafting quilts that became treasured keepsakes.


One of her quilts was presented to an Ambassador of Japan during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. Her talent earned her recognition throughout the quilting community and brought many cherished friendships with fellow quilters. Yet, of all her accomplishments, one of her proudest was making sure each of her grandchildren had a quilt lovingly made by her own hands.


Karen also loved cooking for branding crew and was especially known for her delicious caramel rolls. In 2023, she took on a new challenge, mastering the art of sour dough bread, True to her generous nature, she turned this passion into another small business, using her talents to help families with children facing special medical needs.


Karen was affectionately known as “Gram” to family, friends, and countless children whose lives she touched. At Gram’s house, the door was always open, the coffee pot was always on, food was always cooking, and there was always room for one more visitor. Whether you stopped by for a few minutes or stayed for hours, “Gram” made you feel welcome and gave you her time. Her gift of always making people feel that they mattered.


Karen especially treasured time spent with her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She loved passing her knowledge, sharing her hobbies, and creating memories they will carry with them forever. She was one of their biggest supporters, cheering them on at any school or sporting events whenever she could. When she couldn’t be there in person, she watched from afar, always saying she could yell louder at home!


Karen’s greatest legacy was not simply the many things she accomplished, but the love she shared, the people she helped, and the countless lives she touched along the way.



Karen is survived by her six children: Tiffany (Tom Dzakowic) of Scottsdale, AZ; Travis of Sundance, WY; Nichole of Belle Fourche, SD; Newlly (Janelle Adrian) of White River, SD; Katherine (Brian Lafferty) White River, SD; and Keegan (Brooklyn Isaak) of Gillette, WY. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Morgan, Trevor, Austin, Skye, Mitchel, Jayce, Turner, Lauren, Ben, Jamie, Sierra, Gracey, Kordell, Davian and Ansley; her cherished Great-grandchildren: Sage, Adeline, Nash, Sawyer, Landry, Reese, Tate, Kaisley, Tinsley, Brynley, Kaden, Cohen, Hayes, and Amias.


Karen was preceded in death by her beloved husband David O’Brien; her parents, Ivan “Reed” and Patty Harris; her brother Bruce Harris; her Grandson, Jesse Larson; and her brothers-in-law.


Karen’s Legacy will live on in the family she loved, the traditions she passed down, the communities she served, and the countless lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.


Karen did not want to have any type of service. She wants you to remember her as she was, and to give to others in need instead of receiving.


At a later date, the family will have a private ceremony.


In lieu of flowers please donate to American Cancer Association Or the Epilepsy Foundation.