Karen Lynn Rison

Karen L. Rison, age 84, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday morning, September 26, 2026.

Karen was born on August 4, 1934, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to the late Farrell A. and Gladys E. (Troeger) McCleland. She was a 1961 graduate of Rolling Prairie High School and spent nearly her entire life in the LaPorte area.

Karen’s love story with her husband, Bennie R. Rison, began at the LaPorte Theater, where they were both working. Karen worked at the concession stand while Bennie was an usher, and from those early days together grew a love that would last a lifetime. On May 30, 1964, they were married, beginning a beautiful marriage that spanned 62 years. Following Bennie’s time in the military, the couple briefly made their homes in Alabama and Wisconsin before returning to the LaPorte area, where they built their life and raised their family.

For much of her life, Karen devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mother, lovingly raising her three daughters and creating a home centered around family. In the mid-1980s, she began working as a teacher’s assistant at Lincoln Elementary School in LaPorte. Karen truly loved working at the school and being around the children and staff. Her quiet and caring nature made her well suited for the work she enjoyed so much. After many years of service, she retired in 2004.

Karen found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. She enjoyed bowling and participated in the Senior League at Casey Lanes. An avid reader, she could often be found with a romance novel in hand. In years past, she also enjoyed crocheting, creating pieces with the same patience and care she brought to so many areas of her life. Karen was an amazing cook, and many wonderful memories were made around the meals she lovingly prepared for those she cared about. She also had a special fondness for angels and collected them throughout the years, filling her home with reminders of faith, comfort, and grace.

Family was always at the heart of Karen’s life. Each summer, she eagerly looked forward to the family reunion, a treasured tradition that gave her the opportunity to gather with relatives, reconnect with loved ones, share stories and laughter, and simply enjoy being together. Those reunions were something Karen genuinely loved and anticipated year after year, and they became a meaningful part of the many family memories she leaves behind.

Her faith was an important and enduring part of her life. Karen was a lifelong member of Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church, a church community that remained close to her heart throughout the years.

Above all else, Karen treasured her family. She did not need to be the loudest person in the room to make her presence known. Quiet and reserved by nature, she expressed her love through simply being there—steadfast, dependable, and devoted to those who meant the most to her. Family gatherings and time spent with the people she loved were among her greatest joys.

Her daughter beautifully described the peaceful manner in which Karen departed this life: “She left this world as quietly as she lived in it.” Those words so fittingly capture the gentle spirit of a woman whose life was not defined by fanfare, but by faithfulness, family, and a quiet love that will continue to be felt by all who knew her.

Karen is survived by her husband of 62 years, Bennie R. Rison; daughters, Lori A. McCarty and Wendy Hakes (Scott); brother, Robert McCleland (Connie); three grandchildren, Adrienne, Benjamin and Jackson; five great-grandchildren, Dalton, Lillian, Piper, Gunner, and Taytum; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Rayna; brothers, James McCleland, Gary McCleland and Michael McCleland; son-in-law, Ray McCarty; and grandson, Hunter McCarty.

Funeral services for Karen will be held on Tuesday, October 6 at 11AM at Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church, 3444 US 20, Rolling Prairie, Indiana 46371.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 5 from 4PM until 7PM at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Additional visitation will be held on Tuesday morning at the church from 10M until the time of the service at 11AM.

Karen will be laid to rest at Rolling Prairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Karen’s memory to the Rayna Rison Memorial Scholarship, https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/rayna-rison-memorial-scholarship

Karen leaves behind the beautiful legacy of a life lived gently and faithfully. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, a woman of faith, and a quiet source of strength within her family. Though her presence will be deeply missed, the love she gave so freely, the meals shared around her table, the summer reunions she treasured, and the countless memories created throughout her lifetime will remain forever in the hearts of those who were blessed to call her family and friend.