Reverend Karsten E.O. Baalson

Reverend Karsten E.O. Baalson, age 92, went to be 
with the Lord November 26, 2009, Thanksgiving Day.

Karsten was born in Silvana, WA on December 31, 1916 
to his parents Amanda and Pastor Herman E. Baalson. 
Karsten was born a "PK", preacher's kid, living the 
first eight years of his life in Silvana, WA on an 
island on the Stillaguamish River. Karsten had fond 
memories of attending the Scandinavian Church in 
Silvana, The Little White Church on the Hill, where 
his father was pastor. Enjoying summers with family 
at their cottage on Juniper Beach, Camano Island, WA.

In 1924 Karsten's family moved to Sunberg, Minnesota. 
Karsten graduated from Kerkhoven High School. He 
attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, graduating 
with a B.A. majoring in History, minors in Greek and 
English and letters in track, beating nationally 
known athlete, Theo Gibs, in the 220. He attended 
Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, 
the Seminary of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of 
America.

During the year of his internship at Alexander, North 
Dakota, 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, North 
Dakota and were married 66 years.

Karsten proudly served congregations of Milton and 
Osnabrook, North Dakota, Wilmont, South Dakota and 
Our Saviors, Prineville, Oregon. After retiring in 
1979, Karsten and Bernell moved to Mount Vernon, WA 
to be near his brother, Herman A. Baalson and family. 
Summers were spent on the Borstad farm in Tioga with 
Bernell's brother and sisters families.

Karsten loved the outdoors, cross-country skiing, 
gardening, fishing, art, photography and watching his 
favorite baseball team, the Seattle Mariners. His 
holidays always included his favorite food, Lutefisk 
and Lefse.

Karsten was an avid artist, he enjoyed painting 
canvas oil 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 humorus stories and history.

Karsten and Bernell were active in two Lutheran 
churches, one in Arlington, Atonement Free Lutheran 
and Lord of life Free Lutheran Church, where they 
were founding members.

Reverend Baalson and Bernell led a full and glorious 
life together, travelling 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 new a stranger) and his love and devotion to 
his wife Bernell were endless. He will be dearly 
missed.

Preceded in death by his parents, Pastor Herman E. 
and Amanda Baalson; wife, Bernell Baalson; brother 
and sister-in-law, Herman A. and Donna Baalson.

Karsten is survived by those who loved him, sister-
in-law, Florence (Orville) Hiepler, of Fall Brook, 
CA; nieces and nephews, Karen (Denny) Hauck, of Mount 
Vernon, Patti (Richard) Travis, of Gig Harbor, WA, 
Steve Baalson, of Houston, TX, Michelle Ness, of 
Mount Vernon, Tara (Ray) Harper and their child, 
Riley, of Graham, WA, Corrine (Bruce) Kjelvik, of 
Mesa, AZ, Juris (Helen) Borstad, of Kalispell, MT, 
Dorene (Curt) McDougall, of Minneapolis, MN, Ilene 
(Robert) Bradberry, of Laguna Niguel, CA, and Mark 
(Michelle) Hiepler, of Camarillo, CA. 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.

Memorials may be given to Lord of Life Free Lutheran 
Church, 1616 N. 18th Street Suite 130, Mount Vernon, 
WA 98273.

Visitation hours will held from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 
p.m., Monday, December 14, and from 10:00 a.m. to 
3:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 15, at Kern Funeral 
Home. A Funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m., 
Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at Kern Funeral Home, 
followed by a dinner reception in Kern's social room. 
Burial will be next to his beloved wife, Bernell, in 
the Zion Cemetery, Tioga, North Dakota.

You may offer your condolences and sign Karsten's 
online guest register book at: kernfuneralhome.com

Local funeral arrangements are under the care of Kern 
Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.

Published in The Herald (Everett) on 12/10/2009