Karen Miller

Memorial Service for Karen A. Miller, 73, of Biwabik will be 11 AM Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the Community United Church of Christ in Biwabik with Pastor Paul Van Antwerp officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will in the Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Roosevelt, MN at a later date. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Karen died Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the St. Raphael’s Health and Rehabilitation Center in Eveleth. Karen was born on April 15, 1941 to O. Leslie and Florence (Olson) Tveit in Warroad, MN. She grew up on the family farm in Roosevelt, MN and attended school there and in Williams. After high school she married Robert (Bob) Miller from Roosevelt. They resided in Grafton, ND for 14 years where she worked at the Deaconess hospital, as well as being very busy raising four boys: Rob, Rod, Scott, and Mike. In 1971 they moved to Hoyt Lakes, MN. Karen worked at Norwest Bank for 13 years as a teller and a loan officer. Due to downsizing at the bank she changed directions in her career. She sold life insurance for Bankers Life & Casualty, worked in the office for Festival Foods, and then went to training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and worked for a Home Health Care service so she could care for others, which was always a passion for her. She thoroughly enjoyed caring for clients in their home and being there in their time of need. In 1991 she and Bob realized another dream and moved into a lake home on Bass Lake, south of Biwabik. Two years later, Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she battled for more than 20 years. Living on the lake was a Godsend during the early years of living with cancer, because being at their dream home helped them through the difficult times. When they reached retirement, it was time for another life goal, “sell out to the walls and hit the road as permanent RV’ers.” She and Bob used their career and life skills for the next 5 years, working as “Work Campers” during the winter months at various RV resorts and campgrounds throughout the southern states, including Branson, MO and in Arkansas. Each spring they headed back to Minnesota to manage the Vermilion Trail Campground outside of Biwabik. In five short years at the campground they built a thriving business there, ensuring the visitors were “happy campers”. They were chosen to serve as Grand Marshalls in the Biwabik 4th of July parade in 2007. They purchased a home in Biwabik in 2008 and are active members of the United Christ Church there. Karen was always a devoted wife and mother. She was well known and admired for her cooking, especially her homemade bread, potato salad, and finger rolls! In her limited spare time, she enjoyed sewing (especially Frost Line clothing), quilting, ceramics, and learning new crafts. She loved canning, camping, snowmobiling, picking berries, and anything outdoors. She enjoyed helping others and was always there to lend a helping hand. Although she had her own struggles with her health, she was always looking out for everyone else and doing whatever she could to help. She has certainly touched the lives of many and will be sadly missed by those who knew her. She is survived by her devoted husband Bob, two sons: Scott (Denise) of Colorado Springs, CO and Mike of Aurora; four grandchildren: Nicole Franckowiak of Duluth, MN; Nathan, Ashley, and Justin of Colorado Springs, CO; two brothers: Kenneth (Joyce) Tveit of Fridley, MN and Leroy (Diana) of International Falls, MN; two sisters: Joyce Helmstetter of Mpls, MN and Sharon Becker of Big Sandy, MN; Godchild Renae Osowski; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by two sons: Robert Jr. and Rodney; her parents; brothers: Raymond, Warren, Donald, David, and Sheldon; a special niece: Leann Marie; and special nephew: Rick.