Karen Ann Williamson, age 68, of Garretson, passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne after a 17-month battle with stage 4 stomach cancer. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7:00 PM Friday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.
Karen was born July 16, 1953, in Pipestone, MN to Emil and Ruth (Graves) Fjellanger. She grew up north of Sherman and attended District 45 country school through the 6th grade. She then went to Jasper and graduated in 1971. After high school she went on to Sioux Falls School of Practical Nursing and became an LPN. She started her lifelong career in the healthcare industry working at McKennan Hospital, then Palisade Manor for 14 years, Avera Heart Hospital for 10 years, and part time for Good Sam Home Health Care for 10 years. She did everything from nursing to rehab to working in the office. She loved the residents and her home health patients dearly.
She was united in marriage to Stan Williamson on May 15, 1976, after the high school acquaintances connected the summer before at the Pomp Room. They resided east of Garretson all their 46 years where they farmed and had two children, Sara and Randy. She always said she would never marry a farmer, but she ended up loving the cows and John Deeres (the combine was hers)!
Besides farming and running the cow/calf operation with Stan, she loved her flowers, often buying too many and not having anywhere to put them, her mini ponies and horses, feeding the birds and hosting the annual pheasant hunt. She golfed on and off throughout the years and although she said she was never very good, she still enjoyed going because she could be with friends and Sara and have a cold one. She enjoyed going to her kids and grandkids’ activities and carting Chloe and Zach to the farm to “help”. After years of having a pull camper, she graduated to motorhomes and spent many weekends at the Cowchip by Jasper camping with family and friends. She and Stan would also take off to go fishing, for a Harley ride/trip or out to the hills to see Randy and his scenic tours. She also loved spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Stan; children: Sara (Andy) Hermanson, Garretson and Randy Williamson, Spearfish; grandchildren: Chloe Hermanson and Zachary Hermanson; siblings: Dianne Kujawa, Ashley, IL, Lyle (Diane) Fjellanger, Sherman, Betty (Mitch) Gage, Sioux Falls, and Elaine Roach, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law: Wayne (Jolene) Williamson, Yankton; sisters-in-law: Eileen (Floyd) Swier, Sioux Falls and Mary (Jerry) Blankers, Lake Wilson, MN; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Elmo and Dorothy Williamson.
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