Karen Fredricks age 73 of Lake Benton passed away Monday, August 17, 2015 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20 at Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton. Visitation is 5:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Tyler Area Funeral Home with a prayer service at 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Burial is in Diamond Lake Cemetery. Online condolences may be placed at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tyler Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Karen Ann Fredricks was born May 21, 1942 in Tyler, Minnesota to Frederick and Dagmer (Lund) Christensen. She was baptized at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church. Karen graduated from Hendricks High School in 1960 and was Valedictorian of her class. On September 1, 1962 she married Larry Fredricks at the Lutheran Church parsonage in Hendricks. After raising their children, Karen started as an Avon representative in 1988, and continued selling the products until her death. She also was employed at Schott Corporation for 17 years. Karen loved spending time and money at the casino, talking on the phone, and bragging about her grandchildren. She enjoyed reading Harlequin romance novels and watching the Game Show Network and Wheel of Fortune.

Karen is survived by her children: Loren (Michelle) Fredricks of Lake Benton, Karla Fredricks (special friend Bob Iverson) of Russell, and Kristi Bump (special friend Don Moeller) of Holland; grandchildren: Lance (Amber) Fredricks, Mandy Fredricks (fiancé Carl Burfeind), Destiny Fredricks, Christopher Cauwels, Zach and Katie Bump; great-grandson Hayden Heard; brother Richard (Josephine) Christensen of Mahopac, NY; and sister Clarice Dallenbach of Westbrook. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Larry, brother Vernon “Swede” Christensen, sister Ruth Engesmoe, and infant sister Carol Jean.