Karen J. Berner

Karen Vida (Hopka) Berner

June 21, 1939 – February 20, 2026

Small in stature, mighty in deeds.

Karen was born to Rev. Erich and Videlia (Likes) Hopka on June 21, 1939, in remote Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Losing her mother in childbirth, she was raised by her father and her Aunt Hattie in British Columbia and then in Durango, Colorado. In Durango, Erich met and married Karen’s stepmother Martha (Moellmer), a public health nurse and artist. The family later moved to Winfield, Kansas, where Erich taught as a professor at St. John’s College, a Lutheran (LCMS) high school and junior college. While attending St. John’s, Karen met her husband of 65 years, Eugene Berner.

Karen’s greatest accomplishment was mothering four wonderful children: Jeffry, Beth, Jonathan, and Rebecca. Her life-long vocations as a church organist and teacher brought her immense joy, as she led congregations in hymn singing for worship and fostered the curiosity and learning of children and youth every day.

For over 65 years, she served her Lord as the church organist for all of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod congregrations she attended.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Education from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska, she taught kindergarten and other elementary grades at Lutheran parochial schools in Okarche, Oklahoma, and in Salt Lake City and Murray, Utah.

Karen became a librarian and media coordinator after earning her master’s degree in Library Science from Brigham Young University, at a time when computers were changing how information and books were accessed. She worked initially as the Media Coordinator at Terra Linda Elementary School in South Jordan, Utah, taught math for a year at Mt. Jordan Middle School, and then served as the District Media Coordinator and Farrer Middle School Media Coordinator in Provo, Utah.

While working full-time in Provo and commuting, she pursued and obtained a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Utah, later becoming the Media Coordinator at Hillcrest High School in Midvale, UT. She retired from Hillcrest in 2008.

Karen loved children’s books, fishing, her Entlebucher dogs, parades, making jam and canning peaches, visiting the mountains, traveling, and helping people.

After a long period in hospice, cared for lovingly by family and wonderful caregivers, Karen passed away in her sleep at home after saying evening prayers with her children.

She is survived by her beloved husband Eugene, as well as her four children, daughters-in-law Ann and Mary K, six grandchildren Christena, Catherine, Clara, Karl, Greta and Emilia, and great-grandson Callan.