Prayer warrior, mother, servant, friend…Karen Rae came into this life May 22, 1937, the daughter of Tom and Vivian Peterson in Sioux Falls, SD. She graduated to be with her Lord Sunday, October 10, 2010 in the loving home of her daughter Gail and family, holding Gail’s hand and listening to the 27th Psalm.

Karen devoted her life to family and faith. With a son and five daughters, 21 “grandbabies,” and one great-grandbaby, she has been a matriarch, providing a listening ear and an encouraging (and often opinionated) voice to all. She served Christ by focusing upon the needs of the “poorest of the poor” through her counseling practice in Sioux Falls, SD, serving with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in India, mentoring women off the streets at the Fulton House of Hope in Washington, D.C., and most recently teaching women at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, WA.

She is survived by her brothers Dale (Camille) Peterson of Wenatchee, WA and Gary (Jill) Peterson of Vienna, VA as well as her son Eric Witte of Denver, CO; daughters Gail (Jeff) Larson of Vashon, WA; Lisa (Andy) Dietrich of Kelowna, B.C. Canada; Mary (Stu) Engen of Moorhead, MN; Christa (Bob) Horst of Sacramento, CA; and Jane (Brad) Olson of Sioux Falls, SD; and her grandbabies.

Our heart-felt thanks to the wonderful staff at Swedish Medical Center of Seattle, hospice of Vashon Island, and Dr. Henry Kaplan, whose expertise and caring enabled our Mom & friend to make the most of our time together these past two and a half years.

A celebration of Karen’s life and “graduation” (wear festive! no black) will be held Monday, November 8th @ 3 p.m. at Vashon Lutheran Church (18623 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA). In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Fulton House of Hope. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting

www.islandfuneral.com.

Paid Obituary.