Karen Marie Copas, 70, of Spearfish, SD, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at Monument Hospice House, Rapid City, SD.

Karen Marie Ferguson Copas was born May 21, 1953, in Sheridan, Wyoming, a daughter of Alice and Walter Ferguson.  The following year (August 1954), the family moved to Spearfish, where she lived until her marriage to Wayne A. Copas (Ozzie) in 1971.

As a child, she attended local schools, graduating from Spearfish High School, where she participated in various activities.  During this time, she met Ozzie while he was on leave from the Navy.  After much correspondence (115 letters each), plus completing graduation in 1971, she married Ozzie on August 21 and moved to Sturgis, where they began their family of two sons.  Tyler was born in 1973, and Sterling in 1977.  Following their births, they moved back to Spearfish, where she lived until her death.

Karen spent most of her time as a wife and mother, working for a few years on her husband's uncle's farm, plus what was then, the Dorsett Home.  Her love of antiques prompted her to purchase and refinish many pieces, which she used to decorate their home and help a friend sell them as well.  Another passion was owning vintage cars that she and Ozzie purchased for driving, and in some instances, showing them.  Music also played an important part in her life.  She played clarinet in the school bands and became very knowledgeable regarding composers and performers within many different genres.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Wayne 'Ozzie' Copas, and two sons, Tyler (Angie) and Sterling (Tammy), all of Spearfish, a brother, Walter 'Skip' Ferguson (Mary), of Vancouver, Washington, two sisters-in-law, Deanna Bowman and Karon Copas, both of Spearfish, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, an uncle and two aunts, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter Ferguson and Alice Sherwood.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche, SD.  Inurnment will be held at 2:00 PM at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Monument Hospice House of Rapid City or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish.