Karen Frey

Obituary for Karen Ann (Rudy) Rudolph Frey

Karen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 16, 1961. She was raised in Eagan, Minnesota. Her father was Wayne Harlan Rudolph (Rudy) and mother is Botella (Bo) Mae Halvorson Lorenzen Rudolph. She had a brother Karl August Rudolph (Rudy) that was two years older and he died the end of June 2024 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Both Karl and Karen were 64 years old when they died. Wayne died in 2013.

She attended Burnsvile High school and graduated in 1979.

Upon graduation she joined the Air Force in Aug. 1979 and was stationed at Carswell, A.F.B. in Fort Worth, Texas. She was one of the first women to be a B-52 bomber jet engine mechanic and she worked flight-line. Unheard of for a woman's job in 1979. She looked like a model not a jet engine mechanic. She had no trouble after her co-workers found out she knew her job and wasn't a crybaby. Then she was one of the guys.

Her rank was Sgt. and pay grade was E4. She was on the 7 FMS Strategic Air Command. She received the Maintenance Person of the Month, Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon.

She got multiple sclerosis while in the military and after 5 years and 10 months she was honorably discharged and placed on temporary disability retired list.

After the military she attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She had a bachelor's degree as a Recreational Therapist. Sadly, she never got to use it.

She was divorced twice. For a short time, she was married to Larry Hanson in Pendroy. Later she married Maurice Frey from Havre, and they were married for almost 20 years when they divorced. Karen remained good friends with the Frey family.

She and Maurice have a son named Zail. He is special needs and lives with the other grandparents, Paulette and Robert Frey, in Great Falls. He is 28 years old. He stays with his Dad quite often too.

She lived in many places including: Eagan, Minn., Fort Worth, Texas, Grand Forks N.D., Pendroy, Choteau, and Great Falls, Montana.

Karen was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. She had a lot of Packers paraphernalia.

Although in Minnesota she lived near several Viking players.

Memorials can be sent to Eagle Mount or Special Olympics in Great Falls. Karen's son, Zail is active in both.

A small grave-side military service will be held Thursday, January 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the Military section in the Choteau Cemetery.

Frontier Funeral Home in Choteau are overseeing the arrangements.