Karen L. Johnson

Karen “Lovey” Johnson, daughter of DeEtte Beilfuss-Eager, died May 13, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison with her family at her side.

Karen was the daughter of Lavone Ringdahl & Roy Johnson, born Feb. 15, 1940 in Red Wing, MN. She experienced many tragedies during her childhood: death of her mother in childbirth, of her father in 1945 of an allergic reaction to penicillin during military service in World War 11, and her paternal grandmother.

At the age of ten, Karen moved to the home of her grandmother’s sister, Edna (Huber) Knowlton, who was also the mother of DeEtte Beilfuss-Eager. It was in the Knowlton household that Karen learned to cook, won $5.00 in her first cooking contest with the Chicago Tribune and created her goal to be a cook.

It was while she was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout that Karen selected the nickname of “Lovey” as there were six students in her freshman class with the name of Karen Johnson. She graduated from the University with a bachelors and masters degree in Food and Nutrition. Her thesis “How will we feed Astronauts in Space?” stirred considerable excitement, because it was utilized by the first astronauts.

Karen had fond memories of her academic career at Stout, where she received an honorary PhD from the University as an outstanding Alumna. An annual scholarship is presented to an outstanding student with money endowed by Karen.

Karen continued her studies at the Cordon Bleu in Paris. She was subsequently recruited by Pillsbury, where she helped create the Pillsbury Doughboy. While at Pillsbury, Karen was lured by Borden, from which she retired as the first corporate vice president. Along the way, she received several honors, among them National Home Economist. After her retirement, Karen moved to New York City and worked at Christie’s auction house.

Lovey, whose name was richly emblematic of her life, left her home and life in New York City to assist her mother and Leonard Eager continue the home, travel, and social life that they loved. They jovially dubbed her “The Sergeant” for her formidable insistence on arranging the best in catering, transportation, trips, hotels, and amenities for her mother, with whom she traveled the world (especially Paris!), and for her second father and beloved friend, Prent Eager.

Lovey was tiny and fragile of constitution, but a giant in heart and spirit. For those who knew and loved her, a light has been painfully dimmed.

Survivors include: mother DeEtte Beilfuss-Eager and her husband Leonard Prentice Eager, brother Mark (Peggy) Beilfuss and the love of her life Dick Belter. She was very fond of her niece and nephews: Andy Beilfuss, Bruce Beilfuss and Carley Beilfuss, and their children.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 20th at 11:00 AM at Evansville United Methodist Church, 21 S Madison St, Evansville, Wisconsin with a reception to follow. Memorials have been suggested to Stout University Foundation, 320 South Broadway Street, Menominee, Wisconsin 54751, phone Jennifer Rudiger, 715-232-1151. A private internment will be held.