Funeral Service for Karen Marie Gunderson will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at the Family Life Assembly of God Church, Sisseton, SD, with Pastor Vern Donnell officiating.  Organist will be Sarah Aadland and special music by Del Williams, Kalli Nightingale, and Sara Nelson.  Pallbearers will be Gary Moen, Joseph Nelson, Jon Donnell, Cody Gunderson, Brayden Moen, and Xavier Donnell.  Honorary Pall Bearers will be Tekakwitha Living Center, Sisseton, SD and Villa Maria Nursing Home, Fargo, ND Co-workers, residents and friends.  There will be visitation at the Family Life Assembly of God Church one hour prior to services.  Interment will be in the Goodwill Cemetery, Sisseton, SD at a later date.  The Cahill Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

On June 18, 2023, Karen Marie Gunderson, 57, of Sisseton, SD passed away at home due to natural causes, joining her father Tuby Gunderson for a Father's Day celebration in the Kingdom of Heaven. Karen was born to LeRoy (Tuby) and Janann (Behrends) Gunderson on August 28, 1965 in Webster, SD.  Soon after, the Gunderson family moved to Sisseton. Her childhood was filled with fun and sunshine as she spent hours at the baseball field, lake cabin, and baking with her grandmother learning how to make all the old Norwegian Christmas cookies and breads. She loved playing with the neighborhood kids making lifelong memories. When Karen was a teenager she was crowned Sisseton Snow Queen, making family and friends very proud, especially her Grandma Gunderson.  Following graduation from Sisseton High School in 1984, she earned her LPN degree from Lake Area Technical College. She spent her entire career dedicated to passionately caring for and loving the residents at Villa Maria, Fargo, ND and Tekawitha Nursing Center in Sisseton. Through her occupation she made lifelong relationships with her residents and coworkers whom she loved dearly. She frequently shared that her job at work was to help the residents, when the time came, to send them off to heaven as comfortable and peacefully as possible.

She spent hours sewing elaborate Halloween costumes for her children and beautiful Native American dresses so her girls could dance in the local 4th of July Powwow.  Holiday gatherings have always been a grand event for the family.  These traditions she passed on to her own children and grandchildren. The favorite holiday was Christmas in remembrance of her father Tuby.  She brought the Christmas Spirit alive and spread that joy to those around her.  Karen loved to cook and bake! She passed her baking talents on to her daughters, Shara and Brianna.  Her most sought after dishes were her world famous buns, hot fudge brownies, apple crisp with extra toppings, and extra sloppy joes to name a few.  Her greatest joy was her children and grandbabies.  At grandma's house there were no rules other than pleasing her grandchildren.  Which lead to her endless Amazon purchases for her grandchildren.  Spending time with her children and grandchildren brought her the most joy in life!

Karen is survived by her children Cody Gunderson of Mapleton, ND, Shara (Joe) Nelson of Milbank, SD, and Brianna (Jon) Donnell of Sisseton, SD; step children Deanna and Edith LaBelle; Grandchildren Letty Gunderson, Xavier, Isabella, Emmy and Ryah Donnell, Fynn and Carson Nelson; Step-grandchildren Mason, Cayden, Riley, Sophia, Alex, Quentin, Wambdi, and Sylis;  Her mother Jeanie Gunderson of Moorhead, MN; significant other Del Williams of Sisseton, SD; brothers Alan (Linda) Burchardt of New Bern NC, Mark (Carol) Gunderson of Sulpher Springs TX; sisters Sharon (Gary) Moen of Brookings, SD and Jan (Debbie) Gunderson of Moorhead, MN;  Aunt Yvonne Behrends of Sioux Falls, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews, all which will treasure her memory.

Karen was preceded in death by her father Tuby Gunderson, her grandparents Elling and Ester Gunderson, George and Edna Marie Behrends, aunt and Uncle Calvin and June Estwick, and stepson Daniel LaBelle.