Karie R. Hickman

Memorial services for Karie Hickman, of Morris, Minnesota, will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Morris Area Elementary School Concert Hall, with Reverend Matt Orendorff officiating.  A visitation will be on Friday, from 4-7:00 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the school on Saturday.  Burial will be at Summit Cemetery in Morris.

Karie Rae Wolff was born on October 8, 1967, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Leslie and Maxine (Mattson) Wolff.  Karie was baptized at Kensington Covenant Church in Kensington, Minnesota. She grew up in Little Falls, Minnesota, where she was an active member of 4-H, church groups, and loved to sing with her sister Kay and play piano with her mom. Karie was confirmed at Grace Covenant Church and received her education at Little Falls Public Schools, graduating with the high school class of 1986. Following graduation, she continued her education at the University of Minnesota Morris.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English with minors in Music and Political Science, in 1990.  While in Morris, Karie met the love of her life, Todd Hickman, who was a coach at the University; the two began dating and were married on July 13, 1991, at Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls. They made their forever home in Morris, and welcomed five children: four daughters and one son.  Karie taught English with the Chokio-Alberta Schools, in addition to teaching private piano lessons out of their home.  She later returned to school and received her Master’s Degree in Education and her Secondary Education license, both from Bemidji State University. In 2016, Karie went back to school again, receiving her Specialist Certificate from Minnesota State University in Moorhead in Education Administration as well as her K-12 Principal License.  Karie’s career was all about her students and they were her “happy place”.  She did all that she could to be there for them, even while her health was failing her. As an educator, Karie worked very hard to make sure kids did not fall through the cracks, and gave them personal, one-on-one attention.  She loved to watch them succeed!

In addition to teaching, Karie was heavily involved in 4-H, Student Council and BPA, both as an advisor and mom.  She taught Sunday School and drove many miles throughout the state, going to games that Todd coached.  She traveled near and far for basketball, football, and dance competitions for her children. She was their number one supporter in everything they did.  Karie loved her time with her family at the camper on Leech Lake, and especially listening to the loons in the bay in the evenings.  She also enjoyed scrapbooking, gardening, and reading.

Karie’s life was her family.  She was selfless, and cared about all she did.  Karie was an advocate for her kids, and made an impact on thousands of people and young lives through her many years of teaching, organizations, and leadership.  Karie was so proud of and loved her family fiercely.  She was a proud grandma to her 6 grandchildren and she spoiled them rotten. For the kiddos, leaving Grandma Karie’s early was not an option. Karie LOVED to talk – she was the definition of the Minnesota Goodbye. 

Karie was a fighter, after her cancer diagnosis, she wanted to try anything and everything to give her time.  To the very end, the most important thing was to be at home with her family. Her heart, strongest of all, made sure that she got every moment she could with them.  Karie died on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at her home, surrounded in love by her family, she was 55 years old.

Karie is survived by her husband, Todd of Morris; her children: Cody (Michele) Hickman of Morris, Cassey (Kyle) Wittenburg of Wyndmere, ND, Calley Hickman of Minneapolis, Correy (Brady) Birch of Jamestown, ND, and Cortney Hickman of Morris; grandchildren: Beau, Annie, and Brynne Hickman of Morris, and Eleanor, Emmet, and Emerson Wittenburg of Wyndmere, ND; her parents: Leslie and Maxine Wolff of Little Falls; sisters: Kay Wolff of New York, NY, and Kristi Wolff of Little Falls; parents-in-law: John and Mickey Hickman of Morris; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Chad (Katie) Hickman of Plymouth, and Shelly Hickman of Fargo, ND; nieces and nephews: Ella, Zoey, Danielle, Megan, Ben and Joshua; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family and many friends.  Karie is preceded in death by her grandparents: Elmer and Alice Wolff and Alfred and Lottie Mattson.