Karen Fae Adele Steen Stensrud was born August 23, 1932, near Pocket Lake in Douglas County, Minnesota, the daughter of Herman Claes and Mabel Myrtle Victoria (Wesen) Steen. She was baptized and confirmed at Swift Falls Lutheran Church in Swift Falls, MN. She grew up in Swift Falls and attended grade school there. Karen graduated from Benson High School with the Class of 1950. After graduation, Karen lived in Swift Falls and worked for Jennie-O Turkeys, and also had babysitting jobs. In 1952, she moved to Seattle, Washington and worked as a file clerk. On April 11, 1953, Karen was united in marriage to Ellsworth Jerome Stensrud at Swift Falls Lutheran Church. This union was blessed with five children and 57 years of marriage. After their marriage, the couple moved to Minneapolis, where Karen worked in the kitchen at Sears and Saint Barnabas Swedish Hospital, and in the housekeeping department at Metropolitan Hospital until she retired. They moved back to Swift Falls in 2001. As parents raising their children, they were active in the Young Couples Club at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and the PTA. Among the things Karen enjoyed were sewing, embroidery, knitting, playing cards, traveling, movies, but most important was spending time with family and friends. Karen was called from this life on Sunday, June 06, 2010 at her residence in Swift Falls. She attained the age of 77 years, 9 months and 13 days. Karen is survived by her husband, Ellsworth of Swift Falls; her children: Elna (Jim) Sublett of Swift Falls, Althea (Ricky) Darnell of Maple Lake, John (Diane) Stensrud of Suisun City, CA, David Stensrud of Billings, MT, and Kristine Donelson of Tucson, AZ; 10 grandchildren: Charity (Tony) Kolenc, Charlie Zinn, Leia (Brian) Edmonds, Jeremiah "JJ" Stensrud, Angela Darnell, Nicholas Halvorsen, Julie (Joshua) Harris, John Thor Stensrud, James Donelson III, and Trevor Donelson; 7 great grandchildren: Dallas Kolenc, Denver Kolenc, Destiny Kolenc, Brandon Edmonds, Vanessa Aguilar, Aiddean Edmonds, and Peter Stensrud; sister Adina (James) Vantries of Morris; brother-in-law, Roger (Elaine) Stensrud of Litchfield; sister-in-law Alice (Bruce) von Mosch of Fergus Falls; and other relatives and friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, Herman and Mabel and a brother Jim Steen.
