Karen J. Myran

Karen J. Myran, 84, of Hawley, MN, passed away on Monday, December 17th, 2018 at Eventide Senior Living, Moorhead, MN.

Karen Jean Thorne was born on September 22, 1934 in Minneapolis, MN, to Adolph and Lourene (Westerlund) Thorne. Karen grew up in Golden Valley, MN until her family moved to California during her senior year of high school. She graduated from Junior College at Pasadena City College and worked at the Mother Lode Bank and DMV in Placerville. Her family returned to their cottage on Big Cormorant Lake in the summers and that’s where she met the boy next door and the love of her life, Orris Myran. They married at Eksjo Lutheran Church, Lake Park, MN on June 16, 1957. They lived in Hawley and had three children. After the kids were grown she went back to work for HUD and the IRS. Karen placed foreign exchange students and loved the special connections she made with students, learning about different cultures and traveling to many countries. She maintained contact with most of them when they returned home. She spent much of her time doing volunteer work and taking leadership roles in the organizations she joined. She was a published author of her self-illustrated children’s book on the history of Hawley. Karen lived at Hawley Senior Living, where she enjoyed painting and playing in the hand bell choir, before moving to Eventide.

Karen had many wonderful talents and hobbies including knitting, rosemaling, reading, playing the piano and accordion, baking, dancing, traveling, skiing, and painting. She earned many ribbons for the caps and mittens she created with intricate designs. She sold her rosemaling projects and taught classes. She loved baking Scandinavian treats for church and friends, dancing with Nor/Swe/Dane Folk Dancers, teaching English in China, teaching Sunday School, researching genealogy, and competing in skiing competitions. She continued to ski into her 80s. She enjoyed summers at their cottage on Big Cormorant Lake where they went sailing, kayaking, boating, swimming and water skiing. Karen was often the first one to start the swimming season at the lake and usually continued to swim late in the fall when others had quit for the season. She swam laps nearly every day with her flippers and counted her kick strokes. By the end of summer, she would be getting a couple thousand strokes per day. In the winter, Karen and Orris would explore the area lakes on skis and in the summer, they would explore them in the kayak. She was involved in many organizations including Study Club, Birthday Club, HOBY, Swedish Cultural Heritage Society, and Karen even organized the first Volksmarch group in Minnesota which was active for 25 years. She loved playing games and spending time with her grandchildren. She was very active in her church and painted a mural in Eksjo Lutheran Church. Karen’s warm personality and service to others will be greatly missed by her family, friends and community.

Karen is survived by her husband of 61 years, Orris of Hawley; son, Jon Myran of Colorado Springs, CO; daughters, Kim (William Conradt) Myran of Seattle, WA and Erica (Steve) Fransen of Boise, ID; two grandchildren, Annika and Karl; brother, Rene (Chris) Thorne and sister-in-law, Joan Thorne all of Rescue, CA.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Gene Thorne.

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 28th, 2018 from 5:00 to 6:30 P.M. with a prayer service starting at 6:30 P.M. at Wright Funeral Home in Hawley. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 29th, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley. Burial will take place at the Hawley Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Hospice or Hawley Lutheran Church.