Karen K. Julson

Karen K. Julson, 74, of Mayville, ND died Wednesday July 23, 2014 at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, ND. Karen Kay (Holmes) Julson was born on April 16th, 1940 in Rugby North Dakota. She moved with her family to Sacramento, California when she was two years old and lived there for a year before moving back to Leeds, North Dakota where she resided until she graduated from high school in 1958. She then attended Minot State where she received a standard teaching degree and later attended Valley City State College to obtain her four year teaching degree. In 1960, Karen married her high school sweetheart, William Julson. The couple resided in Hunter, ND where Karen was a teacher and William completed his degree at Mayville State. Subsequently they resided in Fessenden, Casselton, Rugby, and Linton, North Dakota before settling in Mayville in 1980. After teaching in Hunter, Karen taught, or substitute taught, in many of the towns they resided. When positions were unavailable for teaching, Karen worked at various jobs including a type setter for local newspapers and she also wrote a cooking column called “Cook’s Corner” in Rugby and “Cook’s Column” in Mayville. She taught in the MayPort CG school district for 16 years before she retired from teaching in 1999. Karen possessed many talents and took part in many different activities during her lifetime. At a young age she loved to draw and write and used those talents through out her life entertaining her children, grandchildren, and students with poems, stories, and drawings which included paper dolls and paper doll clothing that were always a hit. She also used her artistic abilities to paint and to create elaborate bulletin boards and posters for her classrooms. During her school years, Karen played the baritone, sang and was a majorette and gymnast. She also was a cheerleader all four years of high school and two years of college at Minot State and work as a life guard in the summers. Karen also loved to read, cook, and spend time with family and friends. Lastly, Karen had a sense of humor that could bring friends and family to tears as she wove stories and jokes. Karen is preceded in death by her parents John and Marian (Lotvedt) Holmes, brother-in-laws Curtis Lunde, Kenneth Knudsvig, sister-in-laws Idell Knudsvig, and Darlene Julson. She is survived by her husband of 53 years William Julson, her children Jodi (Julson) and Michael Holmes, Steven and Charleen (Trygestad) Julson, her sister Janis Lunde, brother and sister-in-laws Ronnie and Nadine Julson, Sherilyn Julson, Ross Julson, Fay and Rod Thorsell, Mike and Vicki Julson, and Ardys Julson. She is also survived by her grandchildren Nicholas Holmes, Alexander Holmes, Tessa Holmes, Christina (Holmes) Strazala, Joshua Holmes, Michaela Holmes, Catherine Julson, and Colette Julson. Visitation: Will be 5 – 7 PM with a 7:00 PM Public Prayer Service on Sunday, July 27, 2014 at the Luther Memorial Home Chapel and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Service: 10:30 AM Monday, July 28, 2014 at Mayville Lutheran Church in Mayville, ND. Burial: Will be at the Mayville Cemetery, Mayville, ND.