Karen Maxine Albert

Karen Maxine Albert, age 85 of Arden Hills and Marine on St. Croix, passed away May 8, 2024.

Karen was born April 20, 1939 in Marine on St. Croix to Mildred and Lowell Bengtson. She was the oldest of 4 children, She went to a small country school. She was right-handed, but the teacher said "write exactly like I do" and the teacher was left-handed; hence Karen wrote with her left hand all her life, even though she used her dominant right hand for everything else. Karen attended Forest Lake High School and taught Sunday school at Christ Lutheran Church in Marine.

She went to a diploma nursing school, Methodist-Kahler, in Rochester. Karen often commented that the nursing students ran the hospital! They would care for patients 8 hours/day and then attend classes. Karen enjoyed a long nursing career and often cited how rewarding and how hard it is to be a nurse. She worked in various positions: Med/Surg, industrial nursing, rehab, and home care.

Karen was an "Idea Woman"! She came up with many entrepreneurial plans and put many of them into action. Karen was an extremely hard-working individual , and she and John had many business successes. When Karen decided she was going to do something, there was no stopping her! For example, Karen and John planted between 8,000 - 10,000 trees on their farm by themselves.

Karen had a real zest for life; she had a sense of humor and loved to have fun. She enjoyed many activities: going to plays, traveling, farm festivals, 3rd of July fireworks in Marine, going to Swedish and Danish heritage events, shopping, trying new restaurants; if there was an activity happening, she wanted to go! She was always up for an adventure, and later in life when she couldn't get out, she told her daughter and grandson about fun things happening in the community - trying to get them to go for her!

Karen was charming, outgoing, and sweet. She did her own thing. She lived and behaved the way she wanted to, without paying attention to convention and without depending on others. She was loved and will be missed.

Karen was preceded in death by son, Bradley Matthew Albert; sister, Linda Bengtson; and brother, Reginald Bengtson.

She is survived by her husband, John; daughter, Jackie Albert (Andrew Bahn); grandson, Ian Bahn; sister, Judith (Ellis) Wagoner; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral service 11:00 AM Thursday, May 16 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home - Roseville, 2130 N. Dale St. at County Rd B. Visitation at the funeral home from 10-11 AM Thursday.

Interment Roselawn Cemetery.