Karen Marie Bodeving

Karen passed on at Three Rivers Hospital on Good Friday morning, surrounded by her family. She put up a valiant battle with Multiple Myeloma for almost three years. There was no one more loyal and dedicated to her family and friends than she was. Born in Eugene, OR, on September 19, 1960, Karen was the first of three children to George and Darlene Trahern. She moved to Josephine County when she was just a few days old and became the fourth generation of her family to live in the area, as her father and grandmother were born here and her great grandmother was born on a wagon train headed here. Most of Karen’s life was spent here, except two years in Grant County when she was in the 4th and 5th grades and two years in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Europe). Karen graduated from Grants Pass High School in the class of 1978 and started college in Linfield until transferring to Southern Oregon College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science. Karen met her husband, Paul Bodeving while attending college and they were married June 12, 1982. Following her graduation, they moved to The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for two years where Paul’s family lived. While there, she worked for a newspaper and became active in a marching band. When they returned to Grants Pass, Karen worked for the family at North Valley Auto Center as an F&I director for two years before continuing her education and earning her Certified Public Accountant designation. After working for Virginia Christensen She opened her own CPA office. Karen was totally dedicated to her clients for over 32 years until cancer forced her to retire in the spring of 2022. Karen was a very caring person giving of herself in every endeavor she took on. She believed in doing her best and was a lifelong learner. She was always on the go devoting herself to her family, her work and her friends. In the late 1980’s, she picked up a stray St. Bernard dog at North Valley Auto Center and fell in love with the breed, which led to her and her husband Paul raising some of the best St. Bernards in the world. They bred, trained, showed, mentored and judged St. Bernard shows all over the United States as well as judging in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Karen was very active in the community as well as the dog world. In her working years she was active in the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce (Greeters), the Josephine County Republican Women (president) and she organized and became a charter member of the Illinois Valley Rotary Club and twice served as President as well as other offices. At the time of her death, Karen was President of the National St. Bernard Dog Club of America for the second time. Karen served as President and other offices in the Rogue Valley Kennel Club, the local St. Bernard Club of Southern Oregon. She also served on various boards and civic organizations during her life. Karen was a strong believer in donating back to the community she loved. Her love for the community and humanity involved donation of her organs upon her death and Karen hopes that others will follow her example and become organ donors. Karen is survived by her husband Paul, her daughters, Dani Duby and husband Jason, and Beckie Osterman and husband Greg, her grandchildren: Colin Duby, Connor Duby, Casey Duby, Owen Osterman, and Bodie Osterman; her parents George and Darlene Trahern, brothers Eugene Trahern and wife Marci of Redmond, OR, and Keith Trahern and wife Nancy in Grants Pass, and brother-in-law Claude Bodeving and wife Astrid who reside in Luxembourg. Karen lived life to the fullest and led by example. She was known for her caring for others and for standing up for what she believed in. She loved her pets, farm animals, koi, and the ones in nature that lived on their 40 acres in the woods. Hobbies included camping, traveling nationally and overseas (especially to dog shows), reading and spending time with her family. Her cancer diagnosis led to early retirement which Karen and Paul used to the fullest. While painful, her diseases allowed her to spend the last 3 years of her life making unforgettable memories with children and grandchildren, including trips to Hawaii and Europe. Hull & Hull Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Per her wishes, she will be cremated and returned to her favorite place in the woods.

A Celebration of Life will be held at their new home at 180 Mary Harris Way, Grants Pass, OR, at 2 p.m. on Saturday April 29, 2023. All her friends are invited. Karen wished for the Celebration of Life to be a joyous occasion with memories shared and with minimal tears to be shed. In lieu of flowers, Karen would prefer a donation marked in “In Memory of Karen Bodeving” to St. Bernard Rescue (401c designated) at: sbcacharitablefoundation.org/donations/, to help her support the dogs she loved all her life.