Karen Margrethe Elliott Klein

Karen Margrethe Elliott Klein 87, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at her San Carlos home in the loving arms of her daughters, after a steady and gradual deterioration in health. During this period of decline, her husband Tom attended to her needs with total devotion and warm affection. She was born in Omaha, NE, on June 16, 1919 to Edward and Karen Mortensen, both immigrants from Denmark. On May 29, 1948 she married Bill Elliott in Omaha, after which they settled in Castro Valley and started their family. In 1957 they moved to San Mateo. Bill died in 1980. On April 8, 1989 she married a longtime family friend, Tom Klein, and they lived in San Mateo, Paso Robles, and San Carlos. Karen loved to travel, and she spent most of her adult life working in the travel industry, first with United Airlines and later managing travel agencies in Palo Alto and San Francisco. In her lifetime she visited scores of countries - many several times over - on every continent save Antarctica. She was an accomplished clothing designer and seamstress, and she put a lot of miles on her Singer and Viking sewing machines to create custom clothing for herself and her family. In her later years she took up needlepoint and specialized in exquisite Christmas stockings. With husband Tom close at hand, Karen spent most of her time visiting and playing with her four children, three stepchildren, 12 grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and six great-grand-children. She loved her family, and kept them tight knit, well-fed, and handsomely clothed. She collected butterflies and roosters. She is survived by her husband, Randall Thomas Klein; son, David Elliott and wife, Rochelle; daughter, Kristine Elliott Schwabacher and husband, Randall; son, Michael Elliott and wife, Dawn; daughter, Kim Morley and partner, Calvin Thomas; stepdaughter, Peg (Ed) Seljeskog; stepdaughter, Katie (John) Mackey; stepson, Geoff (Brenda) Klein; grandchildren, Trent (Tammy), Kirsten (Kate), Jamen (Emily), Boone (Bethany), Erin (Zach), Jake (Mo), Abram, Kacie, Jodi, Elise, Tyler (Amanda), and Blake; and great-grandchildren, Trevin, Taeve, Bailey, Tuck, Caden, and Jordan. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William Elliott; brother, Henry Mortensen; and stepson, Randy Klein. There will be a funeral, followed by interment of ashes and a celebration of life on Saturday, May 12, 2007, at 11:00 AM at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 3900 Alameda de las Pulgas in San Mateo. Karen would prefer donations or gifts be made to Transfiguration Episcopal Church, a hospice care provider, or the charity of your choice. And, remember, if you see a butterfly, it could be Karen watching over you.