Karoline Ione Ketchum

Karoline's obituary is being posted as a courtesy by Helgeson Funeral Home, although we are not in charge of arrangements. Her family is planning a June 2026 Celebration of Life. Feel free to support their loss by posting your condolences and tributes on this site.

Karoline Ione Ketchum passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, MN after a long battle of health issues. A Celebration of Life is being planned for June 6 with additional details to be announced closer to that date.

Karoline was born August 26, 1960, in Baudette to Curtis (Cork) and Lilace Ketchum. She grew up in Baudette where she graduated from Lake of the Woods High School in 1978. After graduating she attended college in Thief River Falls. Shortly after graduating from there, she moved to Colorado where she worked as a legal secretary for over 15 years.

While in Colorado, in 1988, she gave birth to twin sons, Tyler and Brendin. Her and her boys moved back to her hometown of Baudette in 1996 where she continued to raise her sons.

During her years in Baudette Karoline worked at Four Seasons Gifts, Wells Fargo Bank, The Baudette Region, CHI LakeWood Health, Dollar General, ANI Pharmaceuticals, and Border Bank. She was a member of First Congregational Church.

Her focus however was her boys. She was actively involved and supportive of their school sports and activities, scouting and more. It also made her very happy to have the home where her boys and all their friends would gather on a regular basis and she became known to many of the friends as "Ma." She loved hosting them all for meals and backyard campfires and as well as being an extra source of support and advice when needed.

Another huge part of her life was her commitment to the community. Karoline spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours volunteering for The Baudette-Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce where she served as an officer for 14 years as well as co-chairing multiple events for the organization including the annual Fourth of July Celebrations, Willie Walleye Days, Fall Festivals and helped create the annual Frost Fest event. She served on the Baudette Community Foundation Board for over 20 years, up until the day of her passing. Over the years, she also volunteered and played an active role in The Youth Action Committee which was responsible for the building of the skate park, The School Alumni Foundation, Take A Kid Fishing, Baudette's Centennial Celebration Committee, and was also active in the committee formed to host the 2004 Governor's Fishing Opener in Baudette. Karoline also was elected to and served on the Lake of the Woods School Board for a time in the past. In addition to the numerous committees and organizations, Karoline was always willing to lend a hand and help with any requests that came her way.

In what little spare time she had after her extensive volunteering hours, she enjoyed gardening and lighting up her block with Christmas lights as well as going to movies and spending time with friends.

Karoline is survived by her two sons; sisters Nancy Miller of Macon, MO; Kathryn (Susie) and Jim Armstrong of Rainy River, Ontario; Karen Carnahan of Minneapolis; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers-in-law Paul Carnahan and Hooty Miller; and nephews Russell Carnahan and Kaden Castaneda.