Karen Jo (Miller) Kuhta, 81, passed away on April 23rd in Richland WA. She was born on Aug 28, 1941, in Prosser, WA where she lived most of her life, raising a family of three boys with her husband Robert (Bob) Kuhta. After retirement they built their dream home in Richland, where they have resided for the last eight years.

Shortly after graduation from Washington State University in 1963 with a degree in Speech Pathology, Karen and Bob were married in Prosser, WA and the couple was quickly transferred from Dayton, WA to San Mateo CA, back to Dayton, and finally to Long Beach CA where they welcomed their first child…all in the first year of married life. After several more transfers and the birth of two more sons, the couple moved from Mica Creek, BC, Canada to settle down in Prosser in 1969.

Karen was active in her community throughout her life. A lifelong member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, she was president of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Altar Society, a volunteer for the Prosser Memorial Hospital Gift Shop and for the Prosser Chamber of Commerce. She also was a founding member of the "OG" women's group. Karen was a Cub Scout den mother for all three sons and scorekeeper for the Lower Valley Babe Ruth Baseball teams coached by Bob. In recent years, she has shared her love of the ukelele as a volunteer instructor with the Richland Public Library.

Karen had a varied career including substitute teaching, copywriting ads for the Prosser Record Bulletin newspaper, and spending approximately 20 years as tour guide and gift shop coordinator for the Chateau St. Michelle Wineries in Grandview and Patterson. Her hobbies included the ukelele, travel, crafts (calligraphy, rubber stamping, knitting, and gardening), and researching her beloved Croatian heritage.

Karen is survived by her husband Bob, sons Brian (Patty) Kuhta of Camas, WA, Scott (Kjersten) Kuhta of Spokane, WA, and Rob (Laura) Kuhta of Denver, CO, as well as by eight beloved grandchildren (Sonja, Eric, Kelsey, Daniel, Colin, Noah, Nathan, and Connor). She is also survived by siblings Jack (Barbara) Miller of Waitsburg, WA and Nancy (Luis) Valdez of Hamilton, MT. She was preceded in death by her father Jackson (Jack) G Miller, her mother Sara Greig, and her beloved sister Pamela (Gary) Johnson.

Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday May 5th at 10 AM. It will be preceded by a recitation of the Rosary at 9am. A Celebration of Life reception follows at the Sacred Heart reception hall. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society. The family invites you to share condolences at www.HillCrestFunerals.com.