Kristi J. Gardner

Kristi Joy Gardner, age 57, of Lake Crystal, was taken from us on, January 9, 2025.

A Visitation will be held from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary. A Private family service will be held. Family interment will be in Lake Crystal Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to CADA house.

Kristi was born October 31, 1967, in Mankato, to Reginald L. and Marjorie D. (Linder) Larson. Kristi grew up in Rake, Iowa where she enjoyed playing volleyball, basketball, excelled at shot put in track in field, playing flute in the school marching band, and was a majorette. 

Kristi graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1986. She then graduated from South Central Vo-Tech with her LPN degree. Kristi was a nurse at the Mankato Clinic for 26 ½ years, where she devoted herself to her patients.

Kristi’s greatest joy in life were her children and grandchildren. She loved watching TV dramas, playing Candy Crush, thrift store shopping, finding a deal, being organized, keeping things clean, puzzles, and gardening. She loved cooking and baking “Norwegian” dishes and showing her love to others by sharing what she cooked.

Kristi is survived by her five children, Katie (Carlos) Medina, Laura (Jared) Landwer, Kasey (Mitchell) Golombiecki, Kelly (Brian) Schultz, and Ryan Paulson; ten grandchildren, Isabella, Emma, Elijah, Macey, Olivia, Briggs, Mauriella, Madelyn, Benjamin, and William; parents, Reggie and Marge Larson; two siblings, Marcus (Earl Moore) Larson and Kimberly (Brian) Schoonover; nephews and niece, Elias Coons-Ruskey, Mariah (Brandon) Grey, and Taylor (Sarah) Schoonover; and many extended family.

Kristi was preceded in death by her husband, Mike in 2023; grandparents, Joy and Thorald “Tork” Larson, Carolyn and Eugene Linder; and many other loved ones.