Reverend Karsten E.O. Baalson
DEC. 31, 1916 – NOV. 26, 2009
Reverend Karsten E.O. Baalson, age 92, went to be with the Lord Nov. 26, 2009, Thanksgiving Day.
Karsten was born a PK (preacher’s kid) in Silvana Dec. 31, 1916 to Amanda and Pastor Herman E. Baalson.
He spent the first eight years of his life on an island in the Stillaguamish River in Silvana. Karsten had fond memories of attending the Scandinavian Little White Church on the Hill, where his father was pastor. He enjoyed summers with family at their cottage on Juniper Beach, Camano Island.
In 1924 Karsten’s family moved to Sunberg, Minn.
Karsten graduated from Kerkhoven High School. He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, graduating with a B.A. in history, with minors in Greek and English and letters in track. He beat the nationally-known athlete Theo Gibs in the 220.
He attended the seminary of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Luther Theological Seminary, in St. Paul, Minn.,
During the year of his internship at Alexander, N.D., Karsten met the love of his life, Bernell Borstad, a high school music teacher. They married in 1943 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Tioga, N.D. and were married 66 years.
Karsten proudly served congregations of Milton and Osnabrook, N. D., Wilmont, S.D. and Our Saviors, Prineville, Ore.
After retiring in 1979, Karsten and Bernell moved to Mount Vernon to be near his brother, Herman A. Baalson and family.
Summers were spent on the Borstad farm in Tioga with Bernell’s siblings and their families.
Karsten loved the outdoors, cross-country skiing, gardening, fishing, art, photography and watching his favorite baseball team, the Seattle Mariners. Karsten was an avid artist. He enjoyed painting with oils and pastels and attending art shows with Bernell.
He enjoyed spending endless hours with his longtime friend and artist Fred Zeretzke at the beach or in the mountains, painting the beautiful scenery. He believed a picture is worth a thousand words.
Karsten also wrote a book, “Karsten’s Kronikles,” full of humorous stories and history.
Karsten and Bernell were active in two Lutheran churches — the Atonement Free Lutheran Church in Arlington and Lord of Life Free Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, where they were founding members.
His holidays always included his favorite food, lutefisk and lefse.
Reverend Baalson and Bernell led a full and glorious life together, traveling the United States, touring Norway and several European countries as well as the Holy Land and historical sites. Karsten’s love for the Lord, family and friends, (he never knew a stranger) and his love and devotion to his wife Bernell were endless.
He will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents Pastor Herman E. and Amanda Baalson, his wife Bernell Baalson and his brother and sister-in-law Herman A. and DonnaBaalson.
Karsten is survived by sister-in-law Florence (Orville) Hiepler of Fall Brook, Calif.; nieces and nephews Karen (Denny) Hauck of Mount Vernon, Patti (Richard) Travis of Gig Harbor, Steve Baalson of Houston, Texas, Michelle Ness of Mount Vernon, Tara (Ray) Harper and their child Riley, of Graham, Wash., Corrine (Bruce) Kjelvik of Mesa, Ariz., Juris (Helen) Borstad of Kalispell, Mont., Dorene (Curt) McDougall of Minneapolis, Minn., Ilene (Robert) Bradberry of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Mark (Michelle) Hiepler of Camarillo, Calif. Karsten is also survived by his closest friends, Sheri and Jerry Windsor and Beverly Lentz.
Karsten’s family would like to express a special thank you to Jerry and Sheri Windsor, Pastor Dale Lankford, Pete and Jacki Smith and Chris Kading, for their friendship to Karsten and also to his dear caregiver Krista Hynds.
Visitation hours will held at Kern Funeral Home, Monday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A funeral service will start at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 at Kern Funeral Home, followed by a dinner reception in Kern’s social room.
He will be buried next to his beloved wife Bernell in the Zion Cemetery, Tioga, N.D. You may offer your condolences and sign Karsten’s online guest register book at www.kernfuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be given to Lord of Life Free Lutheran Church 1616 N. 18th Street Suite 130, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Local funeral arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
