A Heartfelt Farewell to Karla Brown

Remembering a Beloved Colleague

Last week, we lost someone who was never "just" a coworker. We lost a friend, a confidant, a cheerleader, and someone who became part of our extended family.

The office is quieter now. The laughter isn't quite as loud. And all of us are learning just how much we loved our Karla Brown.

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Karla was born in Wagner, South Dakota, on January 5, 1970. She lost her battle against a rare form of uterine cancer on Friday, July 31, 2026, after an intense 6-year fight. But oh, what a remarkable life she lived!

Her family apparently always knew that she would be some sort of performer. As a kindergartener, she would grab "a hairbrush to use as a microphone while interviewing the family pets, or her stuffed animals". She would also serenade the family dogs with songs she learned in kindergarten.

She was active in oral interp and music while in high school. She then attended Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota, and graduated with degrees in Communications with an emphasis on Radio and Television broadcasting, and also Business Management.

A Radio Career to Remember

Karla's first radio gig was at KKCK Radio in Marshall, Minnesota. She then moved to Sioux Falls in 1994 to take on various positions with Results Radio until "she landed her dream job as the midday on-air personality for MIX 97.3."

She remained in that role until her cancer diagnosis necessitated her move to a new position. She then became the Production Director and Continuity Manager for all 7 stations in our Results Radio/Townsquare Media radio group and continued working that job until she entered hospice last week.

As Scott Maguire, our KKRC Brand Manager and Director of Content, would say, "Nobody could outwork Karla Brown!"

Karla's dedication to her work and work family was legendary. She was nominated for the EmBe Tribute to Women in the field of Business Achievement. She has also been inducted into the 2026 Class of the South Dakota Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame for her work as a DJ.

A Personal Reflection on Friendship

This is where the story turns personal, because there was so much more to Karla Brown than the accomplishments listed on a résumé.

I wrote an article about her back in 2018 titled - Karla Brown Wants You to Know She Is Not Patty Dee. It described one of her decades-long pet peeves, and I thought I would share some of the thoughts from it again.

"I'm not sure why people mistake Karla Brown and me for each other. I know Karla doesn't believe it, but I think just as many people mistake me for her as they do her for me. The difference is, I really don't mind. Karla does. And who can blame her? She's younger, cuter, taller, funnier, more outgoing, has better hair, and is just a whole lot more fun than I am. I freely admit that.

Let me give you a tour of the collage of photos above. Beginning at the top left is the beaming Karla Brown; below is me with my friend Todd Heitkamp; at the bottom is Karla surrounded by me, Ben, Adam North, and former Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether. The middle-top photo is Karla, and the middle-bottom photo is me. Finally, the right top photo is Karla with her boyfriend Rick Springfield and BFF Kristi, the middle is me and my sister's Newfie, Angel, and the bottom is Karla's baby, Miss Kitty."

The Fun Side of Karla

Karla was so delightful that Barry Manilow actually dragged her up onstage to slow dance with him at his Sioux Falls concert in April of 2016. Karla absolutely beamed as Barry held her close. She did utter a few words - "Oh my God! This is my first time, and I have loved you forever!" Those of us in the audience just soaked in her joy!

As anyone who knows Karla can tell you, she was especially, hilariously, animated when she was aggravated about something. Whether it was a difference of opinion, something unjust, or some idiotic action another human being had taken. She let you know exactly what she thought!

Karla was the best daughter in the world and spent a great deal of time making sure her mom was well taken care of. When her mom still lived at home in Wagner, she would spend every weekend in the spring and summer doing yardwork and sprucing up around the house. When her Mom was moved to a care home, Karla was there every weekend, bringing food that she knew her mom loved and would eat.

Some of Karla's Favorite and Least Favorite Things!

Other than her "husband/boyfriend" Rick Springfield, whom she worshipped - the great love in her life was her adorable cat, Miss Kitty. I was honored that Karla trusted me enough to care for Miss Kitty from time to time.

Karla was infamous for the fact that she hated almost every vegetable and fruit known to man, and you didn't dare try to slip them to her in the form of a casserole, cookie, cake, or pie either, or she'd drop you like a hot pocket! She could smell a peeled banana anywhere it was being eaten in our building! It truly was a superpower!

I never had a problem with people mistaking me for her. I was always proud to be thought of in the same sentence as someone so funny, so loyal, so generous, and so full of life. If anyone ever confused me with Karla, I considered it a compliment.

The truth is, there will never be another Karla Brown. We were simply lucky that, for a while, she was ours.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

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Gallery Credit: Canva