Karen Mae (Nelson) Daggett was born on August 11, 1945 in Detroit Lakes MN. to August L. and Doris Mae Gertrude (Larson) Nelson. Karen leaves behind a large and loving family and a legacy of music, faith, generosity and caring that touched countless lives.

  Karen grew up on a farm west of Lake Park, MN, the eldest of six siblings. She attended Lake Park Schools graduating in 1963. Karen won several music awards and was crowned Miss Lake Park Festival that summer. She married high school sweetheart Dr. Duane Grierson in 1965 and gave birth to three children, Shyla Rae, Steven Duane, and Shawna Lee. They later divorced.

  She began her working career for Hohman Telephone Co. Lake Park as a ring-down operator. Later she worked for Northwestern Bell, Fargo, ND and Southwestern Bell in St. Louis, MO. Karen went on to serve as an executive secretary for the 7-UP Co. in Clayton, MO and International Multifoods in Minneapolis. She then became a paralegal secretary for Schlagel & Legler Law Firm in St. Paul, MN.

  Karen met Delta William Daggett near Frazee, MN on Hwy. 10 in the fall of 1973 when her car had engine trouble. They married in International Falls, MN on May 24, 1974. She became a proud and busy Mom at 27. Delta’s children, Pauline Susan, twins Christopher Paul and Charles William, and Amelia Kay and Karen’s three became a new family. William Delta Daggett was born in Dec., 1975.

  Delta and Karen had their hands full with the new family but had time for love, life and laughter. Together they were devoted caregivers, bringing into their home many foreign exchange students, children who were needing a “family” at the time and grandchildren. Karen had a compassion of making sure children were taken care of. This included athletes who needed a meal before a game, birthday parties for the many and she never turned away a kid in need of love and comfort.

  The eldest child on a family farm works alongside the father, where Karen learned her work ethic. Her Mother taught her organizing skills and as the eldest child, she learned leadership. As a Wife and Mom, it was sometimes a command and sometimes a gentle suggestion.

  Karen was a devoted caregiver. Her parents, in-laws, children, grandchildren and friends all benefited from her compassion. She had a gift for seeing what needed to be done and quietly taking care of it.

  As grandchildren were born, she would stay with the family when the mother and baby returned home. She would keep the baby in her bedroom so she could be on duty when the child awoke. Karen would take care of the baby’s needs and then bring the baby to the mother’s bed for feeding. Grandchildren were treated to a Florida and Disney trip when they reached seven. Usually two cousins at a time. Karen could maneuver Disney in record time.

  Karen enjoyed volunteering work with pageants at both local and state level. She served on the Board of Directors for the Miss Minnesota Pageant and was Head Field Director coordinating with local pageants and leading judging clinics. She believed in the opportunity pageant scholarships offered and was an advocate for young ladies to make a difference with their lives. Friendships derived from this act of selflessness and became long life memories. She often wrote poems about people or events and recently published a children’ book.

  Karen had many passions. Her grandchildren, music, directing choirs in Frazee, Detroit Lakes, and Lake Park. Hallmark was very happy that she never forgot a birthday or anniversary for family and friends. Some even received a large serving of her Chocolate Chip Cookies. Wherever she lived she would sing in a choir. Her great love was “Singing in the Spirit” as she instructed her choir members.

  Karen established a scholarship fund for students in her area to help pay for piano and organ lessons with the goal that their talents could be shared with their churches in later years.

  Karen is survived by her love and husband Delta Daggett, her children: Polly (Mark) Andersen; Chris Daggett, Charlie (Tamara) Daggett; Shyla (Mark) Moreno; Steve (Gretchen) Grierson; Amelia (Paul) Damlo; Shawna (Dan) Friesen; and Bill (Nelaina) Daggett. Siblings Robert Nelson and Janee Nelson Dehler; sister’s-in-laws Karen Nelson and Lois Gernbacher. Brothers-in-laws David Bertelson and David Daggett and wife Roxann. Grandchildren: Ian and Ellie Andersen; Rylee, Haylee and Dane Daggett; Kiely and Seth Hagen; Jordyn and Lauren Daggett; Cory and Cale Conrad; Treyson and McKenna Moreno; Jacob, Sarah and Aaron Damlo; Andrew and Katie Grierson; Will and Brett Daggett; McKenzie, Olivia and Nolan Mann; and Andrew, Nathan, Ashley, Colton and Grace Friesen. There are also 13 great grandchildren.

Karen was proceeded in death by her grandparents, August and Mabel Nelson and Henry and Nellie Larson (Swenson); her parents August L. and Doris M. Nelson; her-in-laws Albert and Idella Grierson and Vernon and Helen Daggett; her siblings August Nelson Jr., Ronald Nelson; sister Susan Bertelson; Sister-in-laws Patricia Martin and her husband Wil, and brothers-in-law Darwyn Grierson; Dale Gerbacher; and Marvin Daggett and his wife Bette.

Karen left this world listening to some of her children singing one of her favorite hymns and smiling with memories of her good friends in her mind. Her belief in recent years was that if you have a pulse, you have a purpose, and this is how her life was lived. Thinking ahead to when she no longer had a pulse, Karen donated her body to Mayo Clinic. They will use this for research and training of medical personnel.

  Our family is very grateful for the compassion and care the HIA Hospice Blue Team gave Karen during the past seven weeks.

  Visitation will be Friday May 8th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Frazee, MN 4-8pm with a short Celebration of Life Memorial service about 6pm. A Celebration of Life service will be also be held Saturday May 9th at Eksjo Swedish Lutheran Church west of Lake Park, MN at 11AM. There will be a pipe organ concert before the service beginning at 10:30. Karen has planned the menu, arranged the serving and paid for the Swedish Meatball meal to be served following the Eksjo Service.

  In lieu of flowers, Karen prefers donations to the Mayo Clinic for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St S.W., Rochester, MN 55905; Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN P O 644, Fargo ND 58078; or U-Matter Music Scholarship Fund in care of Janee Nelson Dehler, P O 444, Lake Park, MN 56554

David Donehower Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Plans are being made for both services to be livestreamed on the Church’s Facebook websites. Also the Service’s videos will be available later on the David Donehower website.