Karen Dockter

Karen Dockter, age 82, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville, MN.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday. Fr. Brian Oestreich will celebrate the Mass and inurnment will be at Milbank City Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Karen Elaine (Lanser) Dockter was born on October 10th, 1940, Raymond and Geraldine (Anderson) Lanser. She graduated from Milbank High School with the Class of 1959. Karen was united in marriage with Howard Dockter on November 5, 1960, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. They were married 60 years before Howards passing in 2021.

Howard and Karen initially made their home in Milbank, SD, moving to Huron, SD, for a couple of years from 1961 to 1963, then back to Milbank. They moved to Big Stone City, SD, in 1975 then to Ortonville, MN, in 2016.

The couple welcomed two children into their home: Steven and Barbara. Karen’s children remember her as a loving mother who was proud of her children, she loved her family and extended family more than anything.

Karen spent her early adulthood working in the bank as a teller and a proofer, she would point out that was “back in the days before computers". Once her and Howard welcomed children into their home, Karen became a stay-at-home mom and spent every minute she could be with her children at home. During that time Karen also took in other children doing in home daycare and loved being able to provide that service. Once their children were in school, Karen and Howard took a job as joint custodians at the Big Stone School where they worked together for over 20 years. She loved working at the school although the work was not easy, she cherished being surrounded by children and being able to interact with them.

Karen was a voracious reader. She loved to go for walks and her favorite pastime was walking her dogs, later when she didn’t have dogs in her home anymore, she would kidnap her grand puppies “because they needed to get a walk”. Karen was also an avid crafter and baker. Her home was always full of delicious treats but she would always say “they probably aren’t any good”. This was never true, everything she made seemed like it was baked with love and tasted like a little bit of heaven.

Karen is survived by her children: Steven Dockter of Big Stone City, SD; and Barbara (Chuck) Carl of Ortonville, MN; her siblings: Judy Eaton of San Antonio, TX, James (Linda) Lanser of Somerset, WI; Dennis (Nancy) Lanser of Huron, SD; Roxanne (Ron) Smith of Brookings, SD; and Mark (Deb) Lanser of Volga, SD; brother and sisters-in-law: Evelyn (Terry) Gaikowski of Webster, SD; Herman Hein; Barbara Dockter of Borger, TX; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her lifelong love, Howard; and her parents: Raymond and Geraldine Lanser.