Karen Vettel

Karen Marie Vettel, age 77, of Cummings, ND, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Carriage House at Lee’s Farm Assisted Living in Wayland, MA, with her family at her side. She is now at peace after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Karen Marie was born March 30, 1944, in Halstad, MN, the daughter of Harold and Adeline (Finney) Forseth. She grew up on a farm outside of Halstad with her brothers, Eugene and James, and her sister, Judy. Karen attended Halstad High School. After graduation, Karen moved to Fargo, ND, where she worked as a telephone operator at Fargo Telephone Company, a secretary for Bakers Manufacturing and a farm program assistant for the USDA.

Karen met and fell in love with Tom Vettel of Cummings, ND, and on October 17, 1964, they were married. Karen and Tom settled on the family farm outside of Cummings where they raised their three children.

Karen was active in her church and community, involved with Christian Mothers and the local hospital board. She went back to work at the USDA office in Hillsboro, in the late 1980s and worked for a total of 28 years managing farm loan programs. Upon retirement, Karen loved spending time with her children and spoiling her grandchildren. She loved traveling and sitting on the beach with her family and friends, soaking up the rays and listening to the waves roll in. She also loved taking care of their beautiful home and yard that they created over the years. Karen would often be seen on her lawn mower tending to the yard and working in her gardens. Karen was known for her loyalty, compassion, and great sense of humor. She was adored by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Karen is survived by her husband, Thomas; and her three children, Jennifer (Grant) Mulske of Cummings, ND; Matthew (Jenna) Vettel of Weston, MA; and Teresa Vettel of Minneapolis, MN. Karen was grandmother to Nathan Mulske of Fargo, ND; Olivia Vettel of Chicago, IL; Joshua Mulske of Fargo, ND; Henry Vettel of Weston, MA; and Adeline Vettel of Weston, MA; her brother, James (Nancy) Forseth; sister, Judy Tunheim; her sister-in-law, Joyce Forseth; and many nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Adeline Forseth; and her brother, Eugene Forseth.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Alzheimer’s Innovation Fund at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Please use this link bwhgiving.org/vettel or contact Ginny Fuller at (617) 510-9869 or vgfuller@bwh.harvard.edu

Visitation will start at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 25, 2022 with a Memorial Mass at 11:00 am at St. Rose of Lime Catholic Church, Hillsboro, ND with burial to follow at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Hillsboro.