Karen Marie Olson

Karen Marie Olson, arrived into this world on May 22, 1938, the first child and only daughter to the Reverend Ernest and Marie Olson in Duluth, Minnesota. Her childhood years were anchored in the churches her parents served in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. She graduated from Alexandria High School in 1956 and went on to graduate from Gustavus Adolphus in 1960 with her teaching degree. Austin became her home as she student taught here and it became her life and home from then on. She used to say, “I’ve been here how many years and never got out of the third grade!” Karen loved teaching at Austin Public Schools (Nevlin and Banfield), her students, and took personal pride and a protective nature over them. She cared for them like her own and was a compassionate presence in their lives. The community of Austin was always a place where she could go and be recognized by former students and/or their parents; any excursion was a trip that could bring frequent stops to visit with people. As the years progressed her mailbox contained invites to graduations and even weddings of former students which she was delighted and proud to attend. Karen retired in 1998.

In her personal time, she did volunteer work in a few different areas to enhance the Austin community. She donated hundreds of hours of her time to the Austin Medical Center, taking the cart around and delivering beverages to visitors, and being on the board to raise funds for the chapel. St. Olaf Lutheran Church also benefited from her time and talents as she served many years as president, vice president, and other needed roles on the WELCA board. During their fall festival preparations, she assisted with the donut and lefse making. There was a special place in her heart for children, and she served on the preschool board and loved going to the houses of shut-ins to visit and serve them holy communion.

There were many opportunities over the years to travel, which was something she enjoyed. Sweden, France, Hawaii, Europe, and Australia all gave her much delight, but the most cherished trip was her most recent one, a mission trip with fellow members of St. Olaf to Tanzania, Africa! It was so special to her because her cousin, Rev. Dr. Howard Olson, served there as a missionary for 50+ years. The people opened their hearts and arms to her when they found out she was related to him, as he had baptized them, married them, and even ordained some of them. Karen made new friends along the way and appreciated their continued friendships.

In her younger years, Karen loved getting together with her friends and working on projects such as counted x-stitch, Christmas ornaments, and many beautiful and intricate hand stitched works of art adorned her walls and were gifts for family members as well. She was known to have a definite affinity to her coffee (the Swede in her for sure) and chocolate, she very seldom refused either one of those indulgences. In her “relaxing” time her TV was on the Hallmark channel, she loved those movies even though one could usually predict the outcome. Karen had a real knack for caring for flowers and plants at home and outdoors. Years ago, when she lived on Oakland Avenue, she was the self-appointed gardener and had many a conversation with passersby. In the summer months when she was off school and after the passing of her father, she spent her time in Mora, Minnesota, with her mother and taking care of the flower gardens and beds.

After retirement, Karen moved to the Village Cooperative and due to her unique abilities and timeliness was appointed to their board and served her time well. She developed many close relationships there and enjoyed that type of living style, independent but yet having the ability to commune with others.

Karen had a good life- varied, structured, and well-traveled, but most of all it was rooted in her faith, developed as a young child and propagated throughout life in her giving of her time, life, finances, talents, and abilities. She will be remembered fondly by those who knew her and whom she loved and who loved her. Karen was called to her heavenly home by her Lord and Savior at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, St. Marys Campus, on January 15, 2026, after a stint of the flu and pneumonia that enveloped her body. Although she was unable to fight the challenges of it all, she tried valiantly to do so.

Karen is survived by her brother, Paul (Roxi) Olson; niece and goddaughter, Amanda (Randy) Rollins; nephew, Adam (Chelsea) Olson; great-nieces and nephew, Ellie, Emma, Nora, and Jack; and cousins, Barb and Richard Dreier, and Sandra Settergren. She has a host of friends and a long list of former students that make up the lives she has touched and nurtured over the years. Her final resting place will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Mora, Minnesota, alongside her previously departed parents, Ernest and Marie, and brother, David.

The funeral service for Karen will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. The visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at church. A private family interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Mora. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.