Karen Rae Ludwig, (Watterson), 85, passed away.
Karen Rae was born on Jan. 4, 1940, to Claude and Gertrude (Young) Watterson, in Berkeley, Calif. Karen graduated high school from St. Mary’s Academy, Devils Lake in 1958. She began her nursing training in 1959 at Wahpeton State School of Nursing. After graduation, she worked as a nurse in Miami, Fla, Trinity Hospital in Minot, and Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake.
Karen married Clifford Ludwig in Devils Lake on Feb. 23, 1963. They lived in Velva and Michigan, N.D., and returned to Devils Lake in 1972 where they made their home while Cliff worked for Otter Tail.
During her boys’ high school years, Karen worked at Carlson Bakery which the boys absolutely loved! After the boys graduated, she began working as a paraprofessional in the Devils Lake Public School system where she worked for 13 years before retiring.
Karen had many friends in the school district and she was an active member of St. Joseph’s Altar Society as a member of St. Theresa Circle.
Karen and Cliff were avid hockey fans and were season ticket holders for the UND Fighting Sioux hockey team. After retirement, they began traveling with their RV and spending winters in various places in the south including Texas, Florida, and Arizona. They spent the majority of their winters in Arizona where they made many friends.
Karen is survived by her husband, Cliff of 62 years; sons, Michael (Deb), Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Dale (Cindy), Minot, N.D.; her grandchildren include Dustyn Ludwig, Prior Lake, Minn., Danyelle (Tristan) Pollock, Reno, Nev., Ericka (Tyrell) Rose, Grand Forks, N.D., Rande Ludwig, Fargo, N.D., and Deryck Ludwig (fiancé Shelby Gillam), Fort Worth, Texas; great grandchildren include Carter Rose, Brooklyn Rose, Delta Pollock and Callie Rose; sister-in-law Linda Lee; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Marcy Ludwig as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by an infant son Cory, granddaughter Whitney Jo Ludwig, nephew James Stoe, parents Gertrude and Claude, in-laws Teresa and Bernard Ludwig, sister and brother-in-law Claudia and Roger “Bud” Stoe, and brother-in-law Jim Lee.
Visitation was held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a rosary and scripture service at 7:00. Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery followed by fellowship at the Parish Center.
The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed at facebook.com/stjosephchurchdvl.com
