Kay Karlson

She was born September 29, 1931 in Ellsworth, Minnesota to John J. and Anna M. (Bofenkamp) Carey. Kathleen (Kay) spent her entire childhood in the small town of Ellsworth. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School at age 17, earned a teaching certificate at age 19, and was teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Minnesota when, at age 20, she met the man she would wed. On August 11, 1953 she was united in marriage to Donald J. Karlson at St. Mary’s Church.

Kay and Don moved from Minnesota to Utah, back to Minnesota, and finally to California where they raised the large family they both wanted--two sons and seven daughters born over a 15-year period. Beginning in 1980, when her youngest child was 11, Kay established and ran a preschool for 20 years under the auspices of the Monte Vista High School Child Development department, retiring at age 69.

Kay is gratefully remembered by her surviving children, Annie Karlson of Silverton, Oregon; Guy Karlson, Deborah Karlson, Kathleen Karlson, and Lori Davidson residing in and around Spring Valley, California; Janet Haremza and her husband Bruce of Garberville, California; and Kristine Fenick and her husband Joe of La Mesa, California. She is also lovingly remembered by grandchildren Korynn, Ashley, Terese, Allison, Rudy, Haley, Michelle, Vanessa, Joey, Emily, and Zoe, as well as great-grandchildren Paige, Peyton, Carson, Bricen, John III, and another baby on the way. Kay was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Redmond and Gene; her beloved husband Don in 1990; her firstborn son Michael in 1995; and her daughter Mary in 2018.

Kay was a devoted member of the Catholic Church her entire life. A Memorial Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 11:00 am at Santa Sophia Church in Spring Valley.