Karen Gutermuth, 53, of Lexington, Virginia, died Saturday February 5, 2011.

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.

Dr. Gutermuth was a professor of Economics at VMI for 13 years and superintendent's representative to the Honor Court for the past 8 years.

In addition to her parents, surviving are her husband, John E. (Ned) Riester, Jr. of Lexington; two sons, Nathan Manchester of Rockbridge and Aaron Fromenthal of Washington, LA; siblings, Linda G. Fredericks, Dan Gutermuth, Sally Ann Gutermuth, William Gutermuth, Jr., Tracy Gutermuth, Lauren Carrigan, and Lady A. Rucinski.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at Jackson Memorial Hall with Dr. William Klein and Father Joseph D'Aurora officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Rockbridge Area Hospice, P. O. Box 948, Lexington, VA, Virginia Hemophilia Society, P. O. Box 188, Midlothian, VA 23113, or Muscular Dystrophy Association, Professional Park One, 4502 Starkey Rd., SW, #107, Roanoke, VA 24018 . The family will receive friends from 5 Ð 7 p.m. Monday, February 7, 2011 at Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory, Lexington, Virginia.