Karla Kay Luse

Video tribute created by Karla's family.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBWLBXr_M/-l6uy88VBZSG4ZvQH_r1_A/watch

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, Burton, NE. She and Terry were devoted members there for over 40 years before later transferring to Zion Lutheran Church, Colome, SD. 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. It gives her family great comfort to know that they are back together again.

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 the 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 valentines gifts to her great-grandchildren – always finding joy in caring for and giving to others.

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.

She is survived by her son Shannon (Sherry) Luse; daughter Terri Lee (Tom) Cahoy; six grandchildren: Samantha (Spencer)Olson, Jake (Chelsea) Luse, Cameron (Anne) Biggins, Will (Sydney) Cahoy, Wyatt Cahoy, and Westlie Kay Cahoy; great-grandsons: Bo Olson and Barrett Luse; great-granddaughters: Skye Cahoy and Adalynn Biggins; 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 as well as 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.

Funeral service for Karla Luse, age 72, of Wewela, SD, will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD. Lunch will be served at the Colome American Legion Hall. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at the Mt Hope Cemetery of Springview, NE. There will be a Prayer Service on Tuesday February 17 at 7 p.m. at the church. Visitation one hour prior to each service.