Karen Myhre Mikesh

Karen Bredeson Gjerdrum Myhre Mikesh, age 78, of Winterset, IA, formerly of Decorah, IA, passed away Saturday, April 3, 2010, at the Madison County Hospital in Winterset, IA, of congestive heart failure. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at the Wilmington Lutheran Church, rural Spring Grove, MN. Burial will be held at the Old Wilmington Cemetery. Friends may call after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Tuesday morning. Karen Marie Gjerdrum was born June 27, 1931, to Gudbrand and Idella Bredeson in Minneapolis, MN. Karen and her sister, Pauline, were adopted by Ben and Mildred Gjerdrum of rural Fillmore County, MN. Karen married Carlyn Odell Myhre of Spring Grove, MN, on May 8, 1952. After Odell’s death, she married Alfred Mikesh of Spillville, IA. Karen was a loving mother and grandmother and the family fondly remembers her many interests and talents. Karen enjoyed fishing, gardening, sewing and crafts, singing, reading, playing cards with friends, and had a great love of animals-especially her cat, Rascal. Karen is survived by her four children: Carol (Richard) Ipsen, Portland, OR; Ruth (Terry) Henderson, West Des Moines, IA; Rev. Dr. Paul O. (Carol) Myhre, Crawfordsville, IN; and Kristine (Roger) Myhre Barton, Grand Marais, MN. Grandchildren: Elizabeth (David) Eliopulos; Michelle, Lisa, and Carrie Henderson; Rachel and Leah Myhre; Tyson and Sommer Smith and Andrew Barton. One brother, Donald (Linda) Gjerdrum, Mabel, MN. Karen was preceded in death by her first husband: Odell Myhre on September 12, 1981 and her second husband: Alfred Mikesh. Her parents and one sister: Pauline