Karen L Schmechel

Karen “Bama” Schmechel, 68 of Fargo, began her heavenly life as our guardian angel on Monday, April 29, 2013, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN.

Karen Louise Bosh was born November 4, 1944 in Lankin, ND, daughter of Bill and Georgia (Maixner) Bosh. She was raised in the Brocket-Lakota, ND area and graduated from Lakota High School in 1962. She began her career as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell Phone Company in 1961 at the age of 17 and retired in 2001.

Karen moved to Fargo, ND in 1965 and was united in marriage to Darrell Schmechel of Edmore, ND, on July 1, 1966 in Fargo. They made their home in Fargo and Darrell passed away on December 24, 2010.

She enjoyed the simple things in life; reading, watching tv, shopping QVC, being on the computer, and going for rides around town. She also enjoyed cooking enough food for the “troops”, who were welcome to just drop in at any time, and talking on the phone to family and friends until the batteries on both phones were drained!

Karen’s top priority in life was her love for family and friends. If you entered Karen’s home once as a visitor, you can be assured to know when you left, you were considered to be her family. Her greatest joy in life was the time she had with her grandchildren, Chanessa, Emily, Tyler, Gavin, Reiley, and Ella, and her great-grandchildren, Colton and Sophie. And they loved their “Bama” as much as she loved them.

Karen is survived by her daughters, Dawn Schmechel of Fargo, ND, Natalie (Chris) Saueressig of Fargo, and Kami (Jim) Mulderig of Scranton, PA; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother Nick (Donna) Bosh of Moorhead, MN; sisters, Kay Patron of Grand Forks, ND, Diane (Bob) Nelson of Fargo, ND, and Dianne (Tommy) Fossen of Edmore, ND; and many much-loved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; father and mother-in-law, Art and Edna Schmechel; sister, Vonnie Peterson; and brothers-in-law Pete Peterson and Stan Patron.

The family of Karen would like to extend a very special Thank You for the kindness and loving care she received and the countless friends that were made at the Sanford and Kindred Hospitals in Fargo; the Bethel Care Center and Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN; the “angel” in St. Paul, who was such a comfort to her aunt Karen and family; Jacques Boucher and the staff at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home; and Pastor Jonas Bundy and the staff of Bethel Church.

After the funeral services have concluded at the church, the family invites anyone who would like to participate, to join them by bringing a balloon and releasing it in celebration of Karen's life.