Karen Olson, 85, was called home to the Lord on Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Karen was born on October 6, 1937, in Minot, North Dakota to Louis and Carolyn Berg. She was the baby of her family, joining her four older siblings when her mom was 38. With the death of her father when she was five years old, and her sister and brothers already raising their own families, she often said it was her and her mom against the world.  She had many close friends and spoke fondly of her time in North Dakota. In 1956, she met Orv Olson, a handsome young man who fell fast in love at first sight! Mom was surprised to discover that he lived across the street from her brother.  They were married on March 21, 1958, and ten months and ten days later they welcomed their first-born son, followed by another son and daughter.  In 1966, they relocated to Lakewood, WA, and happily completed their family shortly after with their fourth child, another daughter. She was a natural-born mother and made it look effortless to those around her.

Karen was a compassionate woman who loved to help others, so when her youngest daughter reached middle school, she returned to school to pursue a career in nursing.  For the next twenty years, she worked for several local doctors and provided tender care to many patients.

She was loyal, generous, and had a great sense of humor.  Her world revolved around her family, and she happily led her life with a 'family first' mantra. She was the glue of the family and made sure that birthdays, holidays, annual Easter egg hunts in the backyard, and summer vacations at the beach were sewn into the fabric of all our lives. As her children started families of their own, she would celebrate each birth and beg for more. She took great delight in showering those babies with her warm, loving touch and relished her role as Gramma. She will be greatly missed.

She suffered an early loss in her life with the death of her infant son, Bradley Olson. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lillian Kerzman, and brothers Duane, Gordon, and Roland Berg. She recently lost the love of her life and husband of 64 years, Orv.

She is survived by her children Randy (Sandy) Olson, Kara Olson, and Debbie (Baron) Coleman; grandchildren Taryn Tomlinson (Benjamin Wright), Nathan Olson, Joshua and Chelsea Coleman; great-grandchildren James and Cody Wright and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

To watch the service via livestream, please click on the link below.

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3NjAwMjIzMTIzNTIyNSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==