Karen Adele Hanson, 88 of Hermantown MN entered into eternal rest with her Lord on October 12, 2026 after a brief struggle with retinal cancer. Karen was comforted and guided on her journey by her daughters, who never left her side in her final days. Karen made her most recent home at Edgewood Assisted Living in Hermantown, but home was always the Jackson Project house she grew up in and later moved to and remodeled with her mother.

Karen was born on August 23, 1938 in Duluth, MN to Betsy and Ernest Erickson.

Karen attended Hermantown High School and graduated in 1956, where she was a cheerleader and a lover of all mischief earning the nickname Scare'em Karen, which appears printed under her photo in the yearbooks. Karen enjoyed class reunions and was instrumental in putting together many of the them in the past years.

Karen worked a number of jobs in her early years, including the Skyline Drive In Movie Theater, where rumor has it, many friends and classmates were passed through the gate in trunks of cars or hidden under jackets in the back seats. Later Karen enjoyed her careers with Mid-Continent Warehouse and ICI Tribol, working in their business and sales offices.

Karen was primarily a stay at home mom while her children were young. She spent long hours tending her vegetable and flower gardens. Many fall days the house was filled with the smell of pickle brine or fresh raspberry or rhubarb jam. A foray into wine and infused spirits also brought her and her girlfriends many happy afternoons. Friends and family often called her 'Helen Horticulture' because of her passion for digging in the dirt. Karen was even awarded the Jackson Project 'House of the Year' award for her beautifully landscaped yard and flower beds.

During the long Minnesota winters, Karen enjoyed cross country skiing and roller skating. She was a proud and enthusiastic member of the Arrowhead Roller Skating Club and especially enjoyed roller dancing to all of her favorite songs. Karen also enjoyed knitting and crocheting and always had some project at hand, whether that be an afghan or sweater or mittens or slippers. All kids and grandkids received personalized sweaters and Christmas stockings. Karen was also a skilled seamstress who made her own dresses, pant suits, and even lingerie and swimsuits. Shelly and Betsy Sue sported many a Karen original to a prom, dance or performance.

Karen enjoyed traveling and visiting her children and grandchildren wherever they lived. Karen loved her trips to Mexico and especially loved New York City. She checked off one of her bucket list items by seeing the Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in December of 2014.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband Frank E Hanson, her parents and infant great-grandson Josiah.

She is survived by her three children Don Anderson Jr.(Debbie), Shelly Bissonnette (Renaud), Betsy Sue Eliason (Mike); siblings Betsy Ann Erickson, Tom Erickson (Mary); grandchildren Corey Anderson (Bobbie), Kyle Anderson (Stephanie), Robert Weidner (Kayla), Rochelle McCabe (Shawn), Alice Gruska, Kayla Mayich (Jordan), Nikole Spears (Alex); great-grandchildren Ruby, Lucy and Emmy, Emma, Robert and William, Kaitlyn and Carter, Iris Adele, Wyatt, Eliza and Izaiah, and Maddox and many cherished nieces and nephews. 

Service will be held at Sunrise Funeral Home, 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown, MN 55811, on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 1:00pm with reception to follow.