Karen Bennett Bihr

Karen Bennett Bihr went to be with our Lord on November 6, 2024.

 Karen was born September 20, 1941, in the Malad City, Idaho hospital to William (Bill) James Bennett and

NeVada Belle Denton Bennett. Her first home was in Cambridge/Downey, Idaho. 

 She married the love of her life, John Richard Bihr, son of John Bihr and Mollie Margaret Lass Bihr on June 11, 1960 in Worland, Wyoming. 

 Karen and Richard had four children: Mark (Tina) Bihr; Richelle (Paul) Jordan; Diana (Bob) Janicek; and Jared Bihr; eight grandchildren: Kristen (Judd) Latham; Derek (Hannah) Bihr; Tiana (Taylor) Carlson; Brent (Mabel) Bihr; Seth Jordan; Mackenzie Jordan; Kelby Janicek; and Layne (Jessica) Janicek; and five great grandchildren: Kaiden, Jayce, and Eli Latham, and Harper, and Beckett Bihr. Karen loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

 Karen graduated from Washakie County High School, Worland in 1959. During her Senior year of High School, she worked for H. T. Emmett- the County Superintendent of Schools as part-time secretary.

 Following High School graduation, she attended Billings Business College for the next term, graduating in Secretarial Science.

 Karen then returned to Worland working for Casper Supply Co. until August 1961, resigning upon the arrival of her first child.

 Subsequently, Karen worked for the Federal Aviation Administration until the position was closed, and then for the Farmers Home Administration for a short time. In 1986 Karen went to work for the Holly Sugar Corporation/Wyoming Sugar Company. Karen retired in 2006.

 Karen was a member of the Church of Christ. She faithfully and lovingly followed the Lord. She was a past member and officer of the Washakie County Republican Women’s Club. In her younger years she was involved with various Bible School programs, Homemaker’s Club, scouting organizations, recreation programs, 4-H, etc. Karen and Richard enjoyed being a part of pinochle club and playing cribbage.

 Those who knew Karen know what a fabulous cook she was. She loved collecting recipes and preparing them for various family gatherings, guests, work parties, and church potlucks, where they were always a hit.

 If you were lucky enough to sit near Karen at church, you experienced her lovely singing voice. She was frequently invited to sing at weddings and funerals over the years.

 Karen loved to go camping with her family and spent many hours reading in her “Sunshine Tent”, while Richard fly fished nearby. If she was lucky and hit the season at the right time, she was rewarded with a harvest of chokecherries, which she canned into delicious jelly and syrup.

 Karen was a meticulous seamstress and lovingly made outfits for her daughters in their younger years, even utilizing Mark as a model if the garments were to be a surprise. 

 Many may not know that Karen had a secret talent for writing poetry. Many a birthday card was received with a heartfelt poem written inside, which was always better than the Hallmark sentiment.

 In 2016 Karen and Richard left their Worland home of 56 years and moved to Casper to be close to family and medical specialists.

 Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Richard on August 2, 2018, her father in 1974, her mother in 1983, and her brother Bill Bennett.

 Karen is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her brother Darol (Marie) Bennett and by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

 A memorial service for Karen will be held at 1 pm on Dec. 7th, 2024 at the Worland, WY church of Christ. 

 In lieu of flowers, a memorial in Karen’s honor may be made to the Mountain States Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1097, Longmont, CO 80502, or online: Mountain States Children's Home - A Deeper Level of Care, (https://www.msch.org).

 To share a memory of Karen or leave a special message for the family, please visit the guestbook below.