Karen Brayton

Karen’s Live Streamed Memorial Service can be viewed below:

Karen Ann Brayton of Fargo passed away May 4, 2023, at Essentia Hospital, Fargo, ND surrounded by her loving family.

Karen was born to Edna (Schur) and Goodwin Nelson on December 28, 1940, in Hunter, ND. Karen was raised in Arthur, ND where she attended elementary and high school, graduating in 1958. While in high school, Karen met the love of her life, John Paul Brayton of Hunter, ND, and they married that same year.

Karen and John had two children, John Jr., and Julie. After John graduated from Mayville with his teaching degree, the family moved to Sharon, ND where John taught for 5 years. The family then moved to Kindred, ND. While raising their two children, Karen pursued her two-year teaching certificate, graduating from Mayville State College and began teaching at Richland Elementary, Abercrombie, ND. Karen later completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education while continuing her full-time teaching. She taught at Richland for 33 years and continued substitute teaching until fully retiring in 2012.

Karen loved to attend all of John and Julie’s school activities, including choir and band concerts, basketball games and other events, as well as husband John’s football, basketball, and track coaching. As her grandsons grew, she loved to attend their school band and sporting events as well, never wanting to miss a thing. In recent years, she especially loved attending her great-grandchildren’s music and sporting events.

As a child, Karen grew up spending summers on Lake Maud where her parents bought a lake home in the early fifties. She dearly loved her children, grandsons, their spouses, great-grandchildren, and all extended family, taking immense pleasure in sharing Lake Maud with all of them, watching them playing and enjoying her beloved happy place. Karen absolutely loved spending time there laughing, reminiscing, cooking, entertaining, and doting on everyone. Karen had the gift of making those around her feel special wherever she was, and always made sure to have many homemade baked goods on hand, caramel rolls, nut goodie bars or her famous white fudge, accompanied by a strong cup of coffee.

Throughout her life, Karen enjoyed music, singing and dancing. She and John could cut a mean Jitterbug and were known to break into dance on their dock. Karen had a beautiful soprano voice and enjoyed singing in the Kindred Lutheran Church Choir for many years. Karen and John enjoyed wintering in Arizona, where they were able to spend precious time with their son John and his wife, Angie, getting together to visit and to also cheer on their Arizona Wildcat basketball team.

Karen is survived by husband, John, daughter, Julie Dahl (Rick) Fargo, daughter-in-law Angie Brayton, Maricopa, AZ, brother-in-law Ralph Sullivan, Argusville, ND. Grandchildren: Christopher Dahl (Tarah) Fargo and Eric Dahl (Kaitlin) Fargo. Great-Grandchildren: Emma, Elliana, Maverick, and Kittson, along with many special cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families. Karen is preceded in death by her parents, sister Phyllis Sullivan and son John Brayton.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 11, 2:00PM at Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Chapel, 5345 SE 165th Ave, Kindred, ND with visitation starting at 1:00PM. The service will also be livestreamed on the funeral home website. A time of fellowship will be held following the service. Interment to be held with family at the Arthur North Dakota Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Kindred Lutheran Church, Arthur Cemetery, or the American Heart Association.

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