Karen Krause

Karen Marie Krause, 74,

formerly of Minot, passed

away on September 28,

2020.

Karen was born No-

vember 13, 1945 to Harold

Charles and Loretta

(Fettes) Schaefer in Breck-

enridge, Minnesota. The

family, later moved to a

farm, south of Minot. She

attended the Frost

one-room schoolhouse,

with her siblings and

cousins, where she was

involved in 4-H and the

Young Citizens League. In

high school, at Bishop

Ryan, she enjoyed Sodali-ty and singing in the

school choir, graduating

in 1963.

Karen often fought to

maintain her health and

by 2001, she was in need

of a kidney transplant.

Her nephew, Luke

Schaefer, forged a forever

bond with her, when he

gifted his kidney to her.

She always held a special

place in her heart for

Luke. She defied the

odds, surviving nearly 20

years, with a donated kid-

ney, only to have covid

steal her last breath.

She held various secre-

tarial jobs, over the years,

but none brought as much

joy as motherhood. She

loved her children with

all her heart and would

do anything for Brenda

“BB” (Jody) Steckler of

Bismarck; Debbie (Orlin)

Kauffman of Minot;

Charles (Keri) Binder of

Highland Ranch CO and

Mary (Scott) Meador of

Colorado Springs, CO.

Grandchildren; Kortney of

Bismarck, Jordan (Shayla),

Joshua, Isaac of Minot;

Christian, Tegan, Parker,

Sam, Chloe, Nick and

Benny of Highland Ranch,

CO, were the pride and

joy of her life. She was

beyond excited to be

called Great Grandma to

Lane.

Favorite pastimes were

baking, reading, traveling,

gatherings with her si-

blings and giving hugs.

She had an infectious

laugh and was known to

get the giggles, especially

if her sisters were around.

Over her lifetime, she

sewed many outfits, em-

broidered dishtowels, spe-

cial wedding hankies and

stitched many quilts for

those she loved. She firm-

ly believed that going to a

counselor for anxiety or

depression should be as

normal as going to the

doctor for the flu. If you

were loved by Karen, you

knew she struggled for

you, cried over you,

hoped for the best for you

and prayed for you.

Family: Along with her

children, grandchildren

and great grandson she is

survived by her aunt,

Elaine Schaefer, uncle,

Lawrence Schaefer, si-

blings; Dennis (Sandra)

Schaefer, Ken (Kathy)

Schaefer, Frank (Marvel)

Schaefer, Donna (Rich)

Peach, MaryAnn Schaefer

(Steve) and Curt (Cindy)

Schaefer; numerous

cousins and countless

nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in

death by: her

grandparents; Fred and

Mary Fettes, Ed and Mar-

garet Schaefer. Her

parents, Harold and Loret-

ta Schaefer, brother,

Donald Schaefer and in-

fant sister, Mary. Her first

husband, Paul E.R. Binder

and her second husband,

Ted Krause.

A private memorial

service will be held at

Our Lady of Grace Church

in Minot, in November.

A graveside service, fol-

lowed by a celebration of

life, will be held in the

summer of 2021.