Karen K. Allen, 81

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Karen K. Allen, 81, of Shell Knob, Mo., went to be with the Lord on Sept. 11, 2022, after a 10-month battle with cancer.
Karen was born to Elmer (Slim) and Harriet Betts on June 8, 1941, and grew up in Blair. After graduating high school, she married Duane L. Nielsen on Sept. 5, 1959, and together they raised their family in Fremont. Karen worked numerous jobs in the Fremont area, taking positions that would allow her to be active in the lives of her two sons, Robert and Timothy.
In 1989 Duane and Karen moved to Sidney, where her job took her as a manager for Sapp Bothers Truck Stops. Then in 1992, they purchased a home in Shell Knob and relocated for Duane’s retirement. After Duane’s passing in 2001, she married Elzie Allen of Shell Knob and grew very active in her church. Karen was well known in the Shell Knob community and greeted everyone as a friend. She continued to work part-time after her 80th birthday until her health declined and she was no longer able to.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Harriet, and her husband Duane. She is survived by her husband Elzie Allen of Shell Knob, her brother, Larry (Darlene) Betts of Lincoln, her sons Bob (Jenni) Nielsen of New Baden, Ill., and Tim (Robin) Nielsen of Nashville, Tenn., grandsons Joshua Nielsen of Durham, N.C., Air Force 2Lt Jacob Nielsen of Minot, N.D., granddaughters Meagen Nielsen of San Angelo, Texas and Beth Nielsen of Nashville, along with three great-granddaughters Gia, Emily and Lily. Her expanded Allen family includes son-in-law Ricky Allen of Eureka Springs, Ark., and daughter-in-law Tammy Maher of Shell Knob, grandsons Josh (Callie) Maher of Marionville, Mo., and Allen (Brooke) Maher of Jenkins, Mo., and great-grandchildren Kiyah, Korah, Levi and Gracie.
A Celebration of Life was conducted at the Lohmer Full Gospel Church in Shell Knob on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at 2 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Gideon’s International, PO Box 362, Berryville, AR 72616. Online condolences may be sent to the family at shellknobfunerahome.com. © Shell Knob Funeral Home 2022.