Karen A Dailey

Karen Ann Dailey, 59, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away May 5, 2022 at Great Plains Health in North Platte. She was born on April 6, 1963 to Harold “Bob” and Phyllis (Parloek) Laudenklos in Columbus, Nebraska. 

Karen graduated from Monroe High School in 1981.  Two of Karen’s passions as a young girl were her horses and her show cattle, both of which she was very talented and accomplished with.  She made many trips to Denver Stock Show to fit cattle for various people and it was something she took tremendous pride in.  A year after her high school graduation, Karen attended NCTA School, Curtis, Nebraska and worked at Brown Bag Liquor.  It was there that she met the love of her life, Kyle Dailey.  They were united in marriage on April 27, 1987 in Stapleton, Nebraska.  To this union one son was born, Kasey Lynn Dailey, on September 25, 1988.  Early in their marriage the couple lived in Oberlin, Kansas where they stayed a short eight months before moving back to Nebraska.  Living in Nebraska they worked for various ranches that included Watkins Ranch, Arnold; Trego Ranch, Sutherland; Whitewater Inc., Arthur; in 2004 they moved to the Opplinger Land & Cattle, northwest of Tryon and managed the ranch for 15 years.  It was there Karen went above and beyond as a ranch wife spending many miles in the saddle helping work cattle and many hours in the kitchen making sure everybody was fed.  She was a second mom and caretaker to all of the young ranch hands and their families that worked at the ranch over the years.  She was known to all of them as “Momma Karen”.  Karen was also very proud and cherished the time she spent working for Art and Ilene Daly for almost 20 years.   She often commented how the fall was her favorite time of year.  Karen was also very proud of her house, her yard and her garden where she spent countless hours cleaning, mowing, weeding and decorating for every holiday.  Barrell racing was one of her true passions.  She was very dedicated and made sure she spent time training her horses in all types of weather.  Through the 90’s she belonged to an All-Girls Rodeo Association and had many achievements during this time.  Karen was dedicated and loyal, travelling with her husband Kyle all over the state to various team roping and rodeos over the years. She was just as knowledgeable about the sport as any other attendee. Many came to her with questions about a horse or steer or maybe just to vent.  In 2019, Kyle and Karen moved off the Oppliger Ranch and bought their own place north of North Platte. Karen’s heart remained in the Sandhill’s way of life, and her love for horses and cattle led to day work for various ranchers around there when called. She had most recently taken a job working for Bob and Becky Tiedamen. There she happily put her skills as a “steer jock’ back to work. They were impressed with how she handled their cattle and her special ability to gentle them down. Karen was truly a horseman, cattleman, wife, and mom to many, all in one package.

Survivors include husband Kyle of North Platte; son Kasey Dailey of Tryon; special daughter Meka Melvin of Tryon; mother Phyllis Loudenklos of Columbus; several other family members and friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Harold “Bob” Loudenklos; special mentor Art Daly.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to McPherson County Volunteer Fire Department or Logan County Volunteer Fire Department. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Thursday May 12, 2022 at McPherson County High School with Reverend John Parsons officiating. Burial will follow Eclipse Cemetery. Visitation will be held noon-7:00 P.M., with family present 5:00-7:00, Wednesday, May 11 2022 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.