Karen Selberg-Lavelle

Karen Selberg-Lavelle, 66, Fargo, died Sunday, October 28, 2018 in her home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Karen was born March 18, 1952 in San Haven Hospital, San Haven, ND. She was raised in Fargo and attended Roosevelt Elementary, Ben Franklin Middle School and graduated from Fargo North High in 1970. Post high school, she worked at WDAY-TV, years after her parents worked there.

She met Mike Lavelle at Detroit Mountain during ski season. They married in 1974 and brought five unique, loving children into this world. They were also foster parents to thirteen children over a five year time frame. The marriage ended in 1997.

Karen held various customer service and sales jobs over the years. The last two were helping customers with arch supports from Good Feet and shoes from Shu by R&G. She loved these two positions the most.

Unfortunately, in December of 2015, she learned she had Stage 4 non-smokers, non-small cell lung cancer. She had so much support and encouragement from friends, co-workers, and friends of her children. Her wacky sense of humor and all the support made each transition a bit easier to deal with. In the second year, the mutation to the more aggressive cancer became the challenge since options were limited. Finally, she was told there was nothing else to be done. It had spread and growing fast. New path, new beauty to look for.

As life has changed for her, she learned to adapt again and again. Her children have adapted along the way as well. “Here we are, at the end. So many wonderful people who have known about my journey and send positive thoughts and prayers. Thank you!! ILY”

Karen is survived by her five children, Mathew (Jennifer) Lavelle, Hereford, AZ, Megan (Edgar) Marty, Cottage Grove, MN, Zachary (Miranda) Lavelle, Fargo, ND, Jacob Lavelle, Bethesda, MD, and Peter Lavelle, Fargo, ND; sister, Andrea Morken (Joe Sanchez), Tucson, AZ; Partner, Keith Tschetter, Fargo, ND; Grandchildren, Jay Hayward, Dakota Lavelle, Elise and Ada Marty.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Eric and her parents, Norman and Gladys Selberg.

Thank you to Hospice of the Red River Valley for the comfort and care they provided Karen.

You may share memories and condolences at www.hansonrunsvold.com , or at karenselberglavelle@gmail.com for her family to read.

Please join us for a celebration of Karen’s life on Saturday, November 3, 2018 from 2 to 5pm in the backroom of Zandbroz Variety, 420 N. Broadway in Fargo. We will be sharing memories, stories, and some light fare on an afternoon of remembrance.

As per Karen’s request, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice of the Red River Valley www.hrrv.org or Friends of Chimbote www.friendsofchimbote.org/donate .