Karen Koch

Karen Ann Koch, 58, of Bismarck, passed away April 9, 2023, at her home in Bismarck.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Josh Waltz as celebrant. Burial will be at Mandan Union Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Thursday.

Karen Ann Koch was born on March 28, 1965, in Bismarck, ND, to Magdalene (Neibauer) Koch and the late Louie Koch Jr. She was raised on a farm that she truly loved in Shields, ND. She attended Leahy Elementary School and graduated from St. Gertrude’s High School, Raleigh, ND.

Karen worked a variety of jobs in restaurants as a cook and as a housekeeper at the hospital and nursing home. Some of those included Kroll’s Diner (Manager at the Mandan location) and Missouri Slope (she loved looking after the elderly). Karen enjoyed visiting the farm every year, it was her true getaway and she always found peace there. She had quite the green thumb and she would always grow more from her garden than she needed so she could do canning and give fresh produce to dad and mom. She also enjoyed fishing, camping and playing horseshoe. Pretty much anything outdoors she liked to do. Karen had a knack for finding these heartfelt poems that she would give to us family members to make our day. She liked to visit and cared about everyone; making an impact and touching so many people’s lives.

Karen will be greatly missed by her son, Casey Bonagofsky; mother, Magdalene Koch; boyfriend, Rick Johnson; brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law; their dog, Koda; and extended family and friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Louie Koch Jr.; brothers, David and Michael Koch; niece, Becky Lovgren; grandparents, aunts and uncles.