Karen Kaye Gerstner Egeland, 80, passed away peacefully at her home in the afternoon of Oct. 12. She was surrounded by her loving family and caretakers.
Karen was born Jan. 4, 1939, in Loveland, Colorado, to Alma Pearl (Winchester) and Joseph John Gerstner.
She spent her childhood in Loveland until she was 13 and her family moved to Salida, Colorado. Her father worked in Carlsbad, New Mexico, sinking one of the main elevator shafts in Carlsbad Caverns. From there she moved to Monticello, Utah, with her family during the uranium boom. She spent her sophomore and junior years in high school there. She graduated from high school in Salmon, Idaho.
Her family moved to Grants, New Mexico, where she met and married Lars Egeland, to whom she was married for 36 years. The family moved to Moab when her father and husband both got work at Rio Algom Mining Company. While in Moab, Karen and her husband welcomed a son, Joey. When the mine closed, the family moved to Nevada to work at Barrick Gold Mines. They eventually returned to Moab, where Lars retired and Karen spent her later years.
Karen was a homemaker and spent much of her time photographing her son, who meant the world to her. She also loved bowling, ceramics, crocheting and spending time in her yard.
She is survived by her son, Joey; granddaughter Jaeda; a brother, Doug (Sue) Gerstner; a sister, Brenda (Buster) Christensen; niece Kris Lawley; and her sons Dustin White and Aaron Lawley. She is also survived by her lifelong friend Bonnie Miller Farris from Monticello, Utah.
Karen was preceded in death by her father, mother, ex-husband Lars, and Lin Mai Jesse, her best friend in Moab who passed away on the same day as Karen 2 years prior.
At Karen’s request, cremation has taken place and a private family service will occur at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
