Obituary of Karen Smith

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:26

Karen Leanne Smith, daughter of Arnold “Tony” and Della [Meinhardt] Pundt, was born in the Bertha, MN hospital on February 14, 1944. She slipped into glory on the morning of February 19, 2025 at St. Elizabeth Hospice, Edgewood, KY.

She lived on her parents’ farm near Bertha until 1953, when at age 9, her father died. She, along with her mother and her brother Gerald relocated to St. Cloud, MN for 3 years and then to Minneapolis, MN where she graduated from West High in 1962.  She attended Concordia Teachers’ College (River Forest, IL campus) for 1 year, then finished her teacher’s degree at Concordia College (St. Paul, MN campus) in 1966.  She taught 4^th and 5^th graders for 3 years in Cedar Rapids, IA and Wisconsin Rapids, WI.  It was here that she met her future husband, Dale Smith. They married on August 10, 1968.  The Lord blessed them with two children: Beth Anne St. Clair and Matthew Dale (Sandra) Smith. The family then expanded with 5 grandchildren: Beth’s daughters Elita St. Clair, Julia (Bradley) Wiehoff, Sylvia St. Clair and Matt’s children Nicole Smith and Elliot Smith. Karen had one great-grandchild, Wade, whom she treasured dearly.  She loved her family.

In 1973, after 2 years of preparation, Dale, Karen, Beth, and Matt left for Ecuador, South America where they served as evangelical missionaries under World Mission Prayer League. They reached out to the Quechua in the highlands of Ecuador for 17 years—coming back home in 1991. They moved to Bemidji, MN where their goal was to again share the life-changing message of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. They continued their ministry within the Ojibwa (Chippewa) community there, specifically working with native church leaders and focusing on those who were currently incarcerated. After 25 years, Dale and Karen moved to Independence, KY to be closer to their children and grandchildren.  

Karen’s sincerest desire was that every member of her family would wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ and that all would be present at God’s Banqueting Table in Heaven some day with not one missing. Sitting at that very table, she was greeted in Heaven on February 19th by her beloved husband Dale and her late parents. While there will come a day when sadness, crying, and death are ended (Revelation 21:4), there are those presently who ache, love and remember Karen here on Earth: her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchild, her brother Gerald and her sister-in-law Carol Pundt, other extended relatives, her neighborhood Bible study groups and her church family at The Bridge.  Now is our time of grief, but we will see Karen again and we will rejoice, and no one will take away our joy (John 16:22).

Visitation will be held on Monday February 24, 2025, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, 11382 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051. A funeral service will be celebrated directly following the visitation at 1:00 PM, also to be held at the funeral home.  Karen will then be laid to rest gently and comfortably at Independence Cemetery.

Continue being the generous and industrious hands of Karen’s spirit by donating in her memory to a ministry close to her heart: Great Commission Fellowship Ministries. Donations may be made at services or on your own by mailing to Great Commission Fellowship Ministries, Navajo Giftboxes, P.O. Box 1044, Monticello, UT, 84535.

To offer an online condolence to the family or share a memory or photo of Karen, please visit the tabs on this page. 

Karen's funeral service will be live streamed for those who are unable to make it in person. You can join the stream on Monday here.