Karen June Baeth, 77, Fargo, ND (formerly Marion, ND), passed away at her home at Riverview Place while under the care of Red River Valley Hospice. Karen was born June 22, 1942, to Earl and Agnes (Janz) Berge in Jamestown, ND. She was raised on the family farm south of Ypsilanti, ND, and graduated from Montpelier Public School in May 1960. She attended Valley City State College, receiving her teacher’s certificate in Elementary Education in May 1962 (later returning to VCSU in the summers, earning her BS in Elementary Education in July 1981.) and beginning her teaching career. On June 7, 1964, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Elwin Baeth, in the Ypsilanti Lutheran Church, the same church she had been baptized and confirmed. They lived in Marion, ND, raising their three children. Karen retired in 2004 and became a full-time grandma, a job she excelled at! Karen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2017. In January 2019, she and Ken moved to Riverview Place. In June 2019, they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
Karen’s love of children and being an educator never ceased, as attested by the numerous students who kept in touch with her long after becoming adults. She adored her grandchildren most of all, teaching them lifelong lessons and providing hours of fun. Countless miles were made attending each child’s activities, many times packing enough clothes for a week at a time in order to make their loop around the state. Missing an event or program was not an option.
Family, both immediate and extended, was priority and took precedence over everything else. She took pride in watching her children and grandchildren grow up. Her blue eyes would light up whenever given the opportunity to talk about their accomplishments. Annual family vacations and campouts were meticulously thought out and planned while making sure fare was fare, everyone was treated alike and did their part, as well as learning a lesson along the way.
Karen made friends wherever she went and left lasting memories with those she barely knew. She spent time with her dearest friends by playing bridge, chatting over a cup of coffee and while tending to her church and community. Those she couldn’t see on a regular basis were blessed with phone calls, handwritten letters and cards. She had a flare for color whether it be her wardrobe, arranged in a container or adorned at the altar or a table.
Karen was an exceptional cook, baker, gardener and master of everything she set out to accomplish, one of which was the community orchard she created with a beautification grant she wrote and received from the ND Department of Agriculture. She was famous for making her family their personal favorites, decorating made-to-order birthday cakes and preparing plates of Christmastime goodies for Marion area residents. Sharing her creations, harvests and fresh cut flowers gave her great joy. The coffee pot was always on and everything was made, grown and delivered with love.
Karen was a member of the Marion Lutheran Church/WELCA and the Greater Marion Association.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Baeth; children, Kristin Shipley, Minot, ND, Kirk Baeth, Devils Lake, ND and Kara Kluvers, Fargo, ND; six grandchildren (Logan, Dalton and Kendra Shipley, Jackson and Makenna Baeth and Zachary Kluvers). Sisters; Delores (Gary) McDaniel, Cheryl (Norman) Lien, all Bismarck, ND and Kathie Arneson, Fargo, ND; sister-in-law Elieen Afdahl, Sun City, AZ; brothers-in-law: Russel Senne, Bismarck, and Ron (Linda) Baeth, Spicer, MN along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Linda Senne, brother, Lenus Berge; parents-in-law, EJ and Hannah Baeth, sister-in-law, Linda Berge, brothers-in-law Bryce Arneson, Allen Monson, Eugene Afdahl.
Memorials are preferred to the Marion Lutheran Sunday School or the City of Marion/Community Orchard.
Visitation: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Williams Funeral Home, Jamestown. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings, there will be no more than 10 visitors at a time.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Marion Lutheran Church, Marion, ND.