1939
Bette
2007
Bette Karsten
November 8, 1939 — June 1, 2007
Bette Lou "Punkie" Karsten, age 67 of Cannon Falls, died at her home on Friday morning, June 1, 2007, following a two-year battle with breast cancer.
Bette was born on November 8, 1939 in Waseca, the daughter of Vernon and Lorraine (Cummins) Carlson. She attended Palmer country school, and later Waseca Public School.
She married Jack Karsten on June 20th, 1958, and they later divorced.
She worked for many years at many different trades, including electrician, plumber, press operator, welder, supervisor, and fork lift operator. Actually, she could do anything she put her mind to! After raising her four children, she became an avid traveler. Her motor home was her home for many years, telling her kids, "move far away from home for me to get a vacation." This took her across all the western United States and Alaska. She became our walking atlas.....taking time for everyone at each cafe, truck stop, flea markets, and small towns, to see it all. She drove from Minnesota to Texas, taking her parents for their winter months; Colorado to Arizona and up the Yukon Highway, she would go to visit her children and share her time with her grandchildren. She was the ultimate grandma!
She later settled in Cannon Falls, taking time to listen to everyone, never to judge them.
Now she was great grandma and enjoyed her family, bringing her sisters and brother together for lunch one more time. She will be sadly missed by us all.
She is survived by her parents, Vernon and Lorraine Carlson of Waterville; four children, Connie (Richard) Gesme of Osakis, MN, Brian Karsten of Cortez, CO, Kathy Karsten of Trimont, MN and John D. Karsten of Palmer, AK; twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; brother, Curtis (Gladys) Carlson of Waseca; sisters, Donna Fostveit of Waseca, Sharon (Marco) Medeiros of Brazil, Terri (Russell) Ingram of Waterville, and Deb (Dick) Chambers of Waterville; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by niece, Cynthia Medeiros; and brother-in-law, Nels Fostveit.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 5 from 5-7 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home, 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd, Cannon Falls.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the North Waseca Church, 40430 - 120th St., Waseca, with Pastor Nancy Hansen officiating. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.
Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to the Red Wing Hospice.
Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. On-line condolences may be directed to www.lundbergfuneral.com
Bette was born on November 8, 1939 in Waseca, the daughter of Vernon and Lorraine (Cummins) Carlson. She attended Palmer country school, and later Waseca Public School.
She married Jack Karsten on June 20th, 1958, and they later divorced.
She worked for many years at many different trades, including electrician, plumber, press operator, welder, supervisor, and fork lift operator. Actually, she could do anything she put her mind to! After raising her four children, she became an avid traveler. Her motor home was her home for many years, telling her kids, "move far away from home for me to get a vacation." This took her across all the western United States and Alaska. She became our walking atlas.....taking time for everyone at each cafe, truck stop, flea markets, and small towns, to see it all. She drove from Minnesota to Texas, taking her parents for their winter months; Colorado to Arizona and up the Yukon Highway, she would go to visit her children and share her time with her grandchildren. She was the ultimate grandma!
She later settled in Cannon Falls, taking time to listen to everyone, never to judge them.
Now she was great grandma and enjoyed her family, bringing her sisters and brother together for lunch one more time. She will be sadly missed by us all.
She is survived by her parents, Vernon and Lorraine Carlson of Waterville; four children, Connie (Richard) Gesme of Osakis, MN, Brian Karsten of Cortez, CO, Kathy Karsten of Trimont, MN and John D. Karsten of Palmer, AK; twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; brother, Curtis (Gladys) Carlson of Waseca; sisters, Donna Fostveit of Waseca, Sharon (Marco) Medeiros of Brazil, Terri (Russell) Ingram of Waterville, and Deb (Dick) Chambers of Waterville; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by niece, Cynthia Medeiros; and brother-in-law, Nels Fostveit.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 5 from 5-7 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home, 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd, Cannon Falls.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the North Waseca Church, 40430 - 120th St., Waseca, with Pastor Nancy Hansen officiating. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.
Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to the Red Wing Hospice.
Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. On-line condolences may be directed to www.lundbergfuneral.com
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