Karen Lea (Wilkie) Azure was born on April 1, 1949 to Fred L. & Rose Ann (Lilley) Wilkie in Belcourt, ND. Karen attended Houle School, Turtle Mountain High School, and Turtle Mountain Community College. She worked many years at the Rolla Hospital as a nurse's aide, and many more years at the Turtle Mountain Elementary School as a teacher's aide. Later in life she also worked at Rolla Day Care.
Karen married Glenn L. Azure on September 26, 1969 at St. Ann's Catholic. They lived in Texas until Glenn was out of the service then moved home to Belclourt and went to work for the Belcourt School System.
Karen was the wonderful mother of 8 daughters, one son: Annette & Durand Hamley, Nicole & Perry Mears, Leah Azure (Wade Good), Christy Azure (Earl Demery), Jessica Azure (Allen Delong),Leslie Azure (Patrick Marcellais), Ann Brien ( John Lenoir), Melissa Charboneau (Melvin Frank), Jessica Brien, & Delane Wilkie. Karen was also blessed with 28 loving grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Fred & Rose Ann Wilkie, brother Marin Wilkie, Sisters Linda Ann Thomas and Sandra Wilkie, Grandchild Shayla AnnMarie Lenoir, and niece Tracy Azure.
Karen loved having a house full of people to visit. Her happiest times were spent baking with her daughters and sisters. She loved caring for all who needed her and always wanted to help anyone in need. She loved fishing, reading, and her summer picnics with all her many children (her own and the many she adopted and loved), she enjoyed playing bingo and going to the Casino occasionally.
Karen loved learning and teaching others. She was a wonderful teacher by the example of how she lead her life in generosity, kindness, patience, understanding, sharing, forgiveness, and most of all deep and true LOVE. She was loved by everyone, and loved twice as much, and will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.