Karen J. Elliott

Karen Jeanette (Arneson) Elliott passed away July 29th, 2026, at the Heritage of Webster nursing home in Red Cloud Nebraska. She was born April 2nd, 1942, in a little farmhouse south of the Republican River, the last of four children to Marvin “Pete” and Ferne (Phifer). At age five, the family moved to the farm they would call home for the next 12 years. During this time, she attended a small one room schoolhouse, often arriving on horseback riding behind her brother Jerry. When they didn’t ride the horse, they cut across the pasture always making sure the bull wasn’t anywhere around. It was half mile across the pasture but two miles if they stayed on the road. The nearest neighbor was kind enough to build a small bridge over the creek in the pasture so they could cross without getting wet.
After some hard times, the family moved from the farm to a couple different places but ultimately landed in town running The Beanery, a popular hangout of the locals. This was where she spent her teenage years, helping at the restaurant, going to school and working at the hospital. It was her job at the Red Cloud hospital that helped her get a position in the Hastings hospital after graduation in 1959, from Red Cloud High School.
June 8th, 1962, she married Bill Elliott in Red Cloud. They lived their early years in Lincoln Nebraska, while Bill attended college and worked at yet another hospital translating doctors’ dictation. Upon Bill graduating from Pharmacy school, they moved to Lexington Nebraska, where their first child, Scott, was born in 1966. An opportunity to start a business, in Red Cloud Nebraska cam about and they moved there in 1968. It was a busy year! They opened a new business, Bill’s Drive-In Pharmacy, moved into their new home and welcomed their second child, Jill. In 1985 the business was moved to a new location on main street, into the old JCPenney building. This move also brought about a new name, Village Pharmacy. The business was her passion, and she worked hard to make sure the store had a little bit of everything a small town needed. It was the Dollar General before there was a Dollar General. The local often referred to the store as the “Karen’s Kmart”.
Karen used her great sewing abilities to create stylish outfits for her and the kids, and some fantastic Halloween costumes. Her love of plants, inside and out, made the house so inviting and warm. Making vacation plans was something she really enjoyed, and she planned many trios with friends and family.
As the kids got older, she was very involved with their activities from swim teams, baseball/softball, horse shows and school sports. After the kids graduated and moved on, Bill and Karen enjoyed traveling with the greyhounds to various parts of the country. She was a trooper and helped Bill travel straight through on countless trips to Florida and Massachusetts.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents, brother John and sister-in law Doris Arneson, brother Jerry Arneson, sister-in-law Tammy and brother-in-law Larry Gestring, brother-in-law Dennis Wilson, nieces Cathy Simpson and Stacey (Arneson) Sellers, nephews Joel Arneson and Troy Consbruck.
Left to treasure her memory is her husband Bill, son Scott (Allison), daughter Jill (Greg), grandsons Michael D’Ambrosio, Jack and Jace Elliott, sister Joan Jackson, sister-in-law Cheryl Wilson, nephews, nieces and many dear friends.
She worked tirelessly, she loved fiercely, she could hold a grudge, and she was one of the funniest people I ever knew. And we have missed her for a long time.
The Family would like to recognize the staff at the care homes in Deshler and Red Cloud. Their devotions and compassion to Karen and her family cannot be understated. We are so very grateful to every person who provided wonderful care to mom, offer us invaluable advice, let us vent frustrations, and gave us a shoulder to cry on. We are forever changed because of all of you.
Visitation and Family Receiving Friends will be held on Thursday, August 6th, 2026, from 5pm to 7pm at the Williams & Kuehn Funeral Home in Red Cloud, Nebraska
Memorials suggested to Williams & Kuehn Funeral Home in care of the Karen Elliott Memorial Fund for Heritage of Webster Staff and Residents.