Karen Krugerud

Karen Krugerud, of Dawson, died Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the St. Cloud Hospital at the age of 84.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson. Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 29 from 5-7:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with a prayer service at 6:30 PM. There will also be visitation at the church for one hour before the service.

Karen Ann (Thomton) Krugerud was born January 14, 1941 to Harold and Myrtle (Botten) Thomton in Montevideo, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Church in Montevideo. Karen attended school and graduated from Montevideo High School in 1958. After graduation, she went on to Macalester College for a year then transferred to Minnesota School of Business where she became a lab technician.

Sometime around 1960, Karen met Stan Marvin Krugerud at the Fiesta Ballroom where they danced the night away. From then on they would go out dancing every chance they got. They were united in marriage December 8, 1961. They were blessed with four children: Jeffrey, Timothy, Kimberly, and Bradley. She enjoyed their life together in Dawson and loved raising their children and grandchildren.

Karen was born without hip sockets and from the age of 2 to 6, she lived at the Gillette Children's Hospital where she received total hip reconstruction on both hips. She was well cared for and even attended school there. One would think a child would be emotionally upset, but not Karen. She was a social butterfly which also carried into her adult life. She was a normal, happy child and could do everything other children could do - - - dance, roller skate, skip, run, and play.

Karen loved crocheting, quilting, baking cakes for birthdays, embroidery and stitchery, making clothes, bead jewelry, and most recently, doing diamond art. In fact, she enjoyed doing diamond art so much that she would be up all night finishing up a project that she would give to her family and friends. They were beautiful works of art and she poured her heart into everyone she made. She always remembered her grandchildren’s favorite things to eat and made sure they were ready for them when they were there…..chicken pea salad, rice pudding, cavatini, and chicken chow mein.

Karen and Stan enjoyed many years at Old Wagon Campground with all their family and friends. She enjoyed family time, lake life, the end of the camping season party, and having her grandchildren come stay with them. Many games of croquet, playing cards, watching Disney movies or Shirley Temple in the camper on those rainy days were great memories the grandkids will cherish forever.

Karen and her scooter became a familiar site around town, with her always being on the go. Eventually, after 20+ surgeries and all the wear and tear on her body, she started having more pain and difficulty moving about. A fall in her home resulted in her move to the care center where she continued being a caring giver. She enjoyed visiting with the residents and staff, taking part in activities, working on crafts, and the trips to Walmart. Often she would scoot down to the clinic to get goodies from the vending machine, stash them and would have plenty of treats to offer her visitors that came.

Karen is survived by her husband Stan Krugerud; children: Jeff and Kelly Krugerud, Kevin and Kim Lindblad, and Brad Krugerud; grandchildren: Devin and Calista Krugerud, Cameron and Tealie Krugerud, Stephanie and Miland Angolkar, Kassi and Scott Albertson, Kruiz Lindblad, Kendra Lindblad and friend Colin Zacharias, Kolten Lindblad and fiance Brook Olson; great-grandchildren: Brea and Bodin Krugerud, Ava, Jackson and Sawyer Angolkar, Kensley, Kaelynn, Kashton, Kamdynn and Kyleigh Albertson; brothers and sisters-in-law Verdell and Mary Krugerud, Phyllis Anderson, Bethel and Gary Olson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Myrtle Thomton, sister Elizabeth Thomton at birth, brother Kenneth Thomton; mother and father-in-law Helmer and Jennie (Wold) Krugerud, son Timothy Krugerud, grandson Karson Lindblad, niece Kathy Berg, nephew Mark Thomton, sisters and brothers-in-law Roger Anderson, Wyonne and Carroll Norby, Gaylen Krugerud, Beverly and Milo Grams.

Karen will forever be remembered as one of the sweetest, most generous and kindhearted humans you will ever meet. Her spunky and beautiful smile could light up a room and let’s not forget…the cutest scooter lady out walking her dog. She was a sassy and spicy character who kept you in good spirits even if she wasn’t herself. Most of all she will be remembered for always making you feel special, especially to her grandchildren, family, friends and those that she met. Blessed be her memory.