Karen Partridge

Karen Marie (Kraywinkle) Partridge, 80, died in Little Falls, MN on May 29, 2023 after a long ordeal with Alzheimer's disease. She was born on September 8, 1942 to Glen and Mildred (Engebretson) Kraywinkle in Faribault, MN. Karen was the oldest of their four children. After graduating from Central High School in Crookston, MN in 1960, she attended Bemidji State College where she received her Associate's Degree. She headed to Minneapolis getting her first job at Northwestern Bank. Karen married Don Partridge in June 1967 and not long after they moved to Santa Monica, California for employment. Over the years their jobs took them to Kansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota. They retired to Bella Vista, AR and eventually to Little Falls, MN as their health declined. Prior to retirement, Karen was an executive legal secretary for IDS Financial Services. She was a long time member of the National Association of Executive Secretaries. Karen was also a long time member of the PEO Sisterhood and the United Methodist Church. Karen and Don loved to travel. They visited many countries in Europe after which Karen made scrapbooks detailing their adventures. They also visited most of the United States, first in their small airplane, later in their sailboat on Lake Superior and lastly in the comfort of their motorhome. Karen was an exceptionally talented artist. She liked to paint and draw nature scenes, flowers and clowns. She was also very competent doing a variety of needlework. Karen was quick to make friends with dogs. Over the years, their Poodles, Bichon Frises and Lhasa Apsos were wonderful companions to both Karen and Don. Karen spent her last years at the Care Center in Little Falls whom the family wishes to thank for their loving care. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husband's at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Karen was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Nancy Pavlik and brother-in-law Arnie Drendel. She is survived by brother Jack (Kay) Kraywinkle of Brainerd, sister Martha Drendel of Clinton, MO, brother-in-law Roy Partridge (Nancy) of Eden Prairie and sister-in-law Rosemary Ritzer of Grandy, MN, stepchildren Jaye, Brian and Wendy as well as many nieces and nephews. God bless her memory.

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Karen Partridge

September 8, 1942 - May 29, 2023