Karen Gutermuth

Berlin – Karen Gutermuth, 53, died peacefully on February 5, 2011, at her home in Lexington, VA, following a year long battle with cancer. Born April 2, 1957, in Troy, NY, she was a daughter of William D. Gutermuth of Berlin, NY, and Lady Ricker Rucinski of Saratoga Springs, NY.
Valedictorian of Berlin High School’s Class of 1974, Karen earned her Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees from Louisiana State University and her Master’s from Vanderbilt.  She was a professor of Economics at Virginia Military Institute for 13 years prior to retiring in 2010.
Karen is survived by her father, William Gutermuth, and mother, Lady Rucinski. Her stepfather, Ronald Rucinski, died shortly after Karen. She also leaves behind her husband, John (Ned) Riester Jr., sons, Nathan Manchester and Aaron Fromenthal, stepdaughter, Maggie Riester, granddaughter, Monique Donnelly, siblings, Linda Fredericks, Dan Gutermuth, Sally Ann Gutermuth, Bill Gutermuth Jr., Lauren Carrigan, Tracy Gutermuth and Lady A. Rucinski.
For anyone wishing to visit with the family, there will be a gathering at the Berlin Cemetery, Route 22, Berlin, on August 19 at 1 pm.