Karen Kay Beenblossom, age 82, of Stewartville, passed away peacefully at the Stewartville Care Center on December 1, 2024. Karen was born as the only daughter of John and Margaret (Saxton) Knoepke on October 5, 1942, in Preston, Minn.
As a child, Karen grew up on various farms in the Fountain and Wykoff area. She graduated from Wykoff High School in 1960. Growing up on the farm, Karen attained a love of animals, especially horses that she loved to ride with her brothers. Her dream was to own a ranch full of horses, which she fulfilled for a short time while training trick horses with her husband, often performing at rodeos and schools.
Throughout her life, Karen lived at various locations around the Midwest, traveling as a truck driver with her husband across the continental USA. After retiring from truck driving, she and her husband owned and operated an upholstery business out of their home in Lincoln, Nebr. Her final years before retiring found her working for the Lincoln Food Bank, delivering food to schools and those in need. In 2017, Karen moved to Minnesota to be closer to her brothers.
Karen leaves behind two daughters, Kay (Kelly) Bly-Chandler of Osceola, Wis., and Diana Meyer of Cody, Wyo.; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Ken Knoepke and Bob Hodgson, two nieces, and seven nephews.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill Beenblossom, brothers and sisters-in-law LaVern Knoepke (Betty), Darrell Knoepke (who died in infancy), Arden Knoepke (Karen), and Millie Knoepke.
A celebration of Karen’s life will be held at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Wykoff, Minn., on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at the Fillmore Cemetery in Fillmore, Minn.
A special thanks to her very good friend Lois Snyder, who loved and took care of her when Karen moved to Stewartville; special nurse Jessica Ehmke, who rarely left Karen’s side, and the Stewartville Care Center. Blessed be her memory.
Memorials are suggested to the Fillmore Cemetery, c/o Becky Rain, Treasurer, 1326 Lone Stone Ct. SE, Chatfield, Minn. 55923.
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