Karen Hancock

Karen LaRay Hancock passed away on the 13^th of January 2022, concluding a battle with cancer.
The visitation will be Wednesday,  January 19^th, 2022, at Williams Funeral Home in Red Cloud, Nebraska with the family present from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
Funeral were Thursday, January 20^th 10:30 AM at the Esbon Community Church with  Pastor Rod Rose officiating.  Burial was at the Prairie Home Cemetery, Esbon.

Stanley Lingreen and Wilma Lingreen welcomed Karen Luray Lingreen to the family at Saint Rose Hospital in Great Bend on September 8^th, 1958. As the youngest of four, Karen got to experience the family oil business as the side kick to her older brothers Steve and Mike, and sister Joy. The children attended church at the Harrison Street Baptist Church in Great Bend.

Stan and Wilma moved the family to Lamar, Colorado in 1961 where they built multiple businesses in oil exploration and production. The business required a lot from the family, the children helped with everything from loading trucks to spending time in the oil field on the rigs. Karen beginning at the young age of 4, joined her siblings as part of the Lamar competitive swim team. In addition, Karen greatly enjoyed riding horses, participating in 4-H, and helping with the family’s registered cattle herd. The family attended the Calvary Baptist Church while in Lamar. Many evenings, Karen could be found spending quality time with an older sibling, ensuring they were behaving well. Being the youngest had its perks. Karen made life-long friendships in Lamar and kept in touch with many of her friends after the family purchased the Hillside Ranch in 1971.

While attending high school in Osborne, Kansas, Karen continued to show horses in 4-H, EKHA, KWHA, and competing at the Kansas State Fair numerous times. Her love for water that started at a young age only grew as she aged. Karen was always looking for a new place to ride/swim with her horse. In 1976 Karen graduated from High School and moved to Goodland to attend Northwest Kansas Technical College achieving her Associates Degree in Cosmetology.

Karen moved back to the family Ranch for a few years following college, helping in the family cattle operation. Her favorite piece of equipment is the gin truck, and she was quite the hand running it. In the early Eighties Karen moved to Garden City for a couple of years and enjoyed working at both IBP and the Black Foot Feedyard.

 Karen met Doug Hancock when she moved back from Garden City. They shared a love of the outdoors, adventure, and socializing. They were married in November of 1985. Karen and Doug were blessed with two adventure loving boys, Josh and Chris. Karen was a devoted mother and used her energetic nature to master skills ranging from fixing nearly any household appliance, becoming an artisan of canning and food preservation, and a knowledgeable resource on agriculture. Many contend no one ever made a better venison jerky than Karen. Karen helped on the family farm in any capacity she could, but truly enjoyed driving the grain truck to the elevator during each harvest. She took pride in making sure her family was well fed and cared for while balancing family activities including the boys’ sports, auto racing, mud runs, community events, hunting and farming.

Karen enjoyed the outdoors in a way that many never get to experience. Karen and her sister Joy became certified Boating Safety Instructors for the State of Kansas and taught many classes across the state to help educate and keep our lakes safe for all to enjoy. Doug and Karen also had an active Hunting Guide operation in which they built many friendships across the country. Her sense of adventure led her to love zip lining, jet ski’s and motorcycles.  Karen was an avid hunter, loved fishing, and could always find peace at the lake. During the winter months, Karen and Doug could be found ice fishing local ponds and lakes. Karen especially loved the trips that they would take ice fishing in Colorado.

In the last few years, Karen truly enjoyed becoming a grandparent. In love with each of her girls, Karen could not have been prouder of her children and their children. There is a special place in our hearts for the woman who cared for and loved us all.

Survivors include her husband of 36 years Doug Hancock; son Josh Hancock; son Chris Hancock and wife Kaycee; four granddaughters: Caraline, Tylee, Preslee, and Haizlee; brother Steve Lingreen, brother Mike Lingreen and wife Dianne, sister Joy Collins and husband John; sister-in-law Carol Dewitt and husband Roy; sister-in-law Connie Aspegren and husband Ron; and brother-in-law David McMullen; and a host of other family and friends.

Karen is proceeded in death by her father Stanly C. Lingreen; mother Wilma LaRay Lingreen; father-in-law Lowell Hancock; mother-in-law Doris Hancock; sister-in-law Cheryl McMullen; nephew Shawn Lingreen; and nephew Bryce Lingreen.

Simonson Williams Funeral Home
Red Cloud, NE
telephone 402 746 2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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