All Obituaries from Tollefson Funeral Home

Karen Christne Johnson

Name: Visitation
Start: 01/23/2016 01:30 AM
End: 01/23/2016 02:30 PM
Location: Tollefson Funeral Home

July 15, 1956 — January 12, 2016

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Karen C. Johnson, age 59 of Park River, ND passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at the Altru Hospital of Grand Forks.

Karen Christine Johnson was born July 15, 1956 in Park River, ND, the daughter of Selma (Christianson) Johnson and the late Gordon Johnson. She graduated from Park River High School and then attended beauty school in Grand Forks. She then worked for Swirl and Curl in Grafton and the Grafton Developmental Center. She then moved to Roseau, MN and began working for Polaris. She quit working at Polaris in order to dedicate more time to her sons. She then worked for R.E.M. until she was disabled in a car accident. She continued living in Roseau being a dedicated single mother raising her sons and helping with her grandchildren. On December 1, 2015, Karen moved to Park River, ND.

Karen attended bible camp as a young girl. Where she was born again and given a new life in Christ! A new life and journey with trials and tribulations that made her into who we loved and sanctified her toward the wonderful place she is now with her Lord. Her sons are forever GRATEFUL for her spiritual influence, prayers, and diligence in her own walk. We grieve in our time of loss, and rejoice in her going home! 1 Corinthians 2:9. Family was always important to Karen her entire life. Loyalty, forgiveness, and integrity were moral principles she held dear. In Karen’s last years, battling COPD, her legacy, and even her time with her Grandchildren were things she held sacred. She was also very important to her son’s friends, taking in Matt Shephard and raising him for many years. She liked to gamble and play Cribbage and Pinochle.

Karen is survived by her sons: Jesse Johnson, Minneapolis, MN; Bryan (Candace Haugen) Johnson, Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren: Colbie Christine Johnson, Maynard Johnson and Azalea Haugen Johnson; mother, Selma Johnson, Park River, ND; brothers: Guy Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Alan Johnson and Gordon Johnson; sisters: Judy Papenfuss, MaryAnn Greicar and Susan Folendorf; close friends: Candace Haugen, Daryl Monsrud and Monica Monsrud. Several nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her father, Gordon Johnson, brother, Richard Johnson, Jesse’s father, Thomas Gieszler, nephew, Travis Johnson, adopted son, Matthew Shephard and friend, Randy Erickson.

Memorial services will be Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 2:30 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Park River. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Karen Christne Johnson, please visit our flower store.

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