Karen Louise Burnside

Karen Louise (Hanks) Burnside, 73, of Hawley, MN, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Sanford Hospice House, Fargo, ND, surrounded by her loving family.

Karen was born on October 27, 1950, to Lorenzo and Lourene (Brusewitz) Hanks in Fosston, MN. She was raised in Bagley, MN, where she attended and graduated from Bagley High School in 1969. She then attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Zoology. She also went on to graduate with her second degree in nursing from Fairview Hospital School of Nursing. She began her over 40-year nursing career at St. Ansgar Hospital in Moorhead and retired from Sanford Health in Fargo on October 27, 2017. Karen was united in marriage to Perry Burnside on April 13, 1980, in Bagley, MN.

Karen enjoyed quilting, sewing, playing cards, and word games. She loved to watch Hallmark movies and above all, she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Karen is survived by her loving husband, Perry; daughters, Tabitha (Joseph) Hass and Tiffany (Lucas) Ahrendt; grandchildren, Myka, Braelyn, Reeve, and Charlee Hass, and Keynan and Duncan Ahrendt; sisters, Esther Hilger, Alice (Arlen) Burnside, and Linda (Robert) Heinrich; and many other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lorenzo and Lourene; and stepfather, Frank Brichnac.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with a celebration of life from 7:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN.