Karen D. Bjornson

Karen D. (Nelson) Bjornson, of Middleboro, Massachusetts, passed away on October 23, 2025, at the age of 86.
Karen was born at home in Forest Lake, Minnesota, on June 16, 1939, to the late Gustaf and Lilly Nelson. She was baptized at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake. At the age of eight, her family moved to Karlstad, Minnesota, where she was later confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church and graduated from Karlstad High School in 1957.
During her high school years, Karen was honored as Princess Kay of the Milky Way for Kittson County in 1956. She worked for several local families in Karlstad and on the Paul Halfmann farm in Stephen, Minnesota. After graduation, she was employed by Solar Gas in Karlstad before moving to Minneapolis, where she worked for both Cargill and Northwestern Bell.
On January 18, 1965, Karen married Ragnar Bjornson of Badger, Minnesota. Together, they lived in Minneapolis, San Francisco, Toronto, and eventually settled in Middleboro, Massachusetts.
Karen retired from Verizon (formerly Bell Telephone) in 2004. Alongside Ragnar, she was also involved in their family cranberry business, Viking Bogs, and they were proud grower-owners of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. for 37 years.
Karen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ragnar, in September 2025; her parents; her sister Gloria and husband Don Staehnke; her brother John and wife Priscilla Nelson; sister-in-law Kathy Nelson; brothers-in-law Clinton and wife Stephanie Bjornson, and Carl Bjornson; and great-nephew Gunner Bjornson.
She is survived by her brother Clyde Nelson; sister-in-law Margie Nelson; many nieces and nephews; and numerous close friends.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Benchmark Senior Living and Hospice Services of Plymouth, MA, for the compassionate care they provided to both Karen and Ragnar.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Badger, Minnesota.