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Leah Rae (Herard) Karlin Obituary

On January 10, 2025, at 90 years of age, Leah Rae Herard Karlin earned her angel wings.

Submitted by Family

On January 10, 2025, at 90 years of age, Leah Rae Herard Karlin earned her angel wings. Rae was born in Elgin, Kansas on January 9, 1935, to Francis Wayne and Imogene Bowman Herard, and was one of three children.  

At five months of age, Rae lost her mother and went to live with her aunt and uncle, Bill and Marie Bowman. She lived on a ranch outside of Pawhuska until her dad remarried and the family was reunited. She was raised in Ponca City where she graduated from high school. After graduation, Rae was employed as a telephone operator and loved her job.  

Courtesy of an introduction by best friends, Billy and Bonnie Jueschke, Rae went on a blind date with Karl V. Karlin. Rae and Karl continued dating and were married on September 19, 1954. They moved to Borger, Texas, where Karl went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company. Rae and Karl had four children: Mike, Karla, Jean and Julie. Rae was an amazing mother who was active in her children’s lives and her church, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. She was an avid reader and quilter who made many beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren.

Karl’s job transferred the family to Stavanger, Norway in 1977. Rae enjoyed traveling, and the couple visited many countries together. One of her favorite trips was to Italy where she visited Florence and Venice. She also loved going to London at Thanksgiving where she went to the theatre and enjoyed Christmas shopping for the family. Another of her favorite experiences was a ladies’ shopping trip to Aberdeen, Scotland, with her best friend, Alta Tevebaugh, where they appeared in the local newspaper. Rae and Karl made many lifelong friends in Norway, such as neighbors Tor and Solveig Dalene, who enjoyed playing Hand and Foot Canasta and going on group ski trips.

After Karl’s retirement, the couple moved from West Columbia, Texas, back to Borger, Texas. Rae and Karl were blessed with nine beautiful grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Rae enjoyed working on puzzles, playing UNO, and listening to country music with her grandchildren. Most of all, she loved sharing stories about her Osage heritage and ancestors, as well as teaching her children how to be well-mannered.

Rae will be greeted in Heaven by her maternal great-grandfather, Frank Tinker; maternal grandparents, Rosetta Tinker and Fred Lawrence Bowman; paternal great-grandparents, Mary Elizabeth Chouteau and Virgle Joe Herard; paternal grandparents, Bessie Mae Stingley and Eugene Francis Herard; and parents, Imogene Bowman and Francis Wayne Herard. Rae will also join her husband, Karl; son-in-law, Dale Florer; grandsons, Joshua Karlin, Jarrod Florer; great-granddaughter, Faith Florer; and brother, David Herard.

Those left to cherish her memory are children, Mike Karlin (Ruthie), Karla Florer, Jean Rose (Steve), Julie Espinoza (Joe); grandchildren, Gabriel Karlin, Ginnie Karlin, Jacob Florer, Joseph Florer, Jennifer Rose, Taylor Willems, and Tristan Espinoza; great-grandchildren, Michael Karlin, Daisee Karlin, Madelynn Whitfield, Gracee Florer, Jameis Florer, Samantha Watson, Cooper Watson, and Aspen Willems; and sister, Franc Ann Johnson.

Rae will be laid to rest with her husband, Karl, of 65 years, and parents on Friday, January 17, at 2 p.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Ponca City. She was loved very much and her family will miss her infectious smile, joy and laughter dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation in Rae’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the Osage Nation Foundation.

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