Karla Luse

A funeral service for Karla Kay Luse, age 72, was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD, with Pastor Don Windsperger officiating.

Music was provided by Roxi Summerville, organist. Doug Beck and Dan Musilek were ushers, and DeAnna Kartak, Daneille Kartak, and Daci Kartak were in charge of registrations. Flower attendants were Chelsea Luse, Sydney Cahoy, and Anne Biggins.

Samantha Olson, Jake Luse, Cameron Biggins, Will Cahoy, Wyatt Cahoy, Westlie Cahoy, and Bo Olson were casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Gary and Kathy Woods, Mick and Marylynne Zink, Marion and Linda Ishmael, and Charles and Bev Axtell.

Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery in Springview, NE. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Karla Kay (Nilson) Luse was born December 9, 1953 in Winner, SD, to Edgar and Edith (Pedersen) Nilson.

Karla was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Grace Lutheran Church in Burton, NE. Her faith was the foundation of her life, and she lovingly passed that devotion on to her family. She is the reason her family goes to church and the one who brought Christian faith into their homes.

Karla married her high school sweetheart, Terry Luse, on April 4, 1970. They spent 45 years together as a beautiful example of love and commitment, a partnership that made marriage look effortless. Their union was blessed with two children, Shannon and Terri Lee.

From a young age, Karla had a natural ability to nurture and care deeply for everyone around her, whether it was making sure her brothers remembered their mittens for school, taking care of the residents at Rose Manor, supplying dum dum suckers to all the kids after church, or caring for her family and friends far and near. Even the day before she passed away, she was delivering valentine gifts to her great-grandchildren.

Karla was a helper at heart. Her kindness and generosity made people feel truly seen and loved. She found joy in bringing others together, whether she was cooking a feast for family and friends or taking her grandchildren to see her pasques on the hill each spring. Family was the center of her world, and her favorite title was Grandma.

A woman of many talents, she shared her gifts through cooking, gardening, and sewing, always creating with love.

Her greatest happiness came from caring for others and making the people around her feel at home.

Karla passed away at Avera Gregory Hospital surrounded by her loving family on Friday, February 13, 2026.

She is survived by her son Shannon (Sherry) Luse; daughter Terri Lee (Tom) Cahoy; grandchildren Samantha (Spencer)Olson, Jake (Chelsea) Luse, Cameron (Anne) Biggins, Will (Sydney) Cahoy, Wyatt Cahoy, and Westlie Kay Cahoy; four great-grandchildren; siblings Margo Dawson, Myron (Barb) Nilson, Howard (Rita) Nilson, Cindy (Ted) Cook, DeEtta (David) Grooms, and Holly (Mike) Moore; sisters-in-law Dixie Nilson, Kaye Smolik, and Linda (Theron) Hodgin; and brother-in-law Dale (Teresa) Luse; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Karla was preceded in death by her husband Terry, parents, grandparents, brother Galen Nilson, brother-in-law Darrell Dawson, and sister- in-law DeeAnne Nilson.