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Karen Renee (Olson) Swanson, age 81, of North Branch passed away peacefully on Friday, March 14, 2025, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and complications from a stroke.

Her family grew up in North Branch, where she was known for being a beloved babysitter and a talented athlete before girls’ sports became widely available.  While in school, Karen participated in as many activities as she could including being a member of the first Vikettes Dance Team, Declamation, and Glee Club.  She was also honored as a Homecoming Queen Candidate and a Midsummer Queen candidate.  She was a proud North Branch High School Class of 1961 graduate. After high school, Karen got a job at Northwest Bank in Minneapolis where she worked for several years.  That same year, Karen went on a first date with Don Swanson to the Aitkin County Fair.  They became engaged on Christmas Eve the next year and were wed on August 1, 1964.  They lived in Minneapolis for a short time before purchasing land and building a house in North Branch which would become their home for the next several decades.  

Karen retired from the banking life to be a stay-at-home mom when she had children.  Besides being the world’s greatest mom, Karen gave much of her time to volunteering for numerous organizations throughout the community.  She was a lifelong member of the North Branch United Methodist Church (Main Street Church), where she held various roles throughout her life.  Her proudest accomplishment at church was being part of the NBC Puppeteers, a group that performed puppet shows around the Midwest.  Another of her favorite volunteering roles was with Anonymous Santa where she was the official “hugger” and hugged every single person that came through the door.  Karen was also a writer and enjoyed writing poems about any topic that popped in her head.  She was very proud of her published poem book, God, Country, True Stories…And a Bunch of Nonsense in Rhyme.

When her children were in their teenage years, Karen accepted a position as the North Branch High School Media Clerk.  That job allowed her to form relationships with staff and students throughout North Branch Area Public Schools.  She loved her job, and she loved to help students with whatever they needed.

Karen’s greatest role in life was being a mom and grandma.  She would do anything for her family and her family loved her equally in return.  Karen will be known for the kindness she extended to everyone she met–she never met a stranger.  She was especially mindful of veterans and would go out of her way to thank every service member she encountered. 

Karen is preceded in death by her husband Donald Swanson; her son Keith Donald Swanson; her parents, Arvid and Margaret Olson; her brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Jan Olson and her nephew Brian Olson.  

She is survived by her children; Lori Pulkrabek (Eric), Michael Swanson (Rachel), Mindy Lattimore (Matthew); her grandchildren: Annabelle and Amelia Lattimore, and Piper Swanson; her sister Lorna Olson; her in-laws Carol Dreier, Wayne and Joanne Swanson; her nephews Bart Olson, Brent Olson, Troy Dreier, and Scott Swanson; and her niece Tamara Swanson.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Main Street Church in North Branch, (6500 Main Street), with a visitation one hour prior to the service and also from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Grandstrand Funeral Home (6580 Main St.) in North Branch.  A luncheon will take place immediately after the memorial service, followed by interment at Oak Hill Cemetery in North Branch.  

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Grandstrand Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North Branch.  www.grandstrandfh.com

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