Karen was born on March 8, 1943, in Grace Township, Chippewa County, to Dayton & Orel (Gullord) Williamson.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Montevideo United Methodist Church. Karen attended high school in Montevideo and graduated in 1961. She then lived in Minneapolis where she studied nursing and worked in an insurance office and flower shop, where she honed her impressive gardening skills.

On March 2nd, 1974, Karen was united in marriage to DeWayne Hermanson. They raised four daughters together on a farm near Boyd. Karen's greatest fulfillment in life came from spending time with her family, including her five grandchildren, whom she spoiled endlessly. Family was of the utmost importance to her.

Throughout her life Karen enjoyed gardening, traveling, sewing, reading, going for walks, and spending time with her many friends that she made along the way. She loved working in the Dawson-Boyd school kitchen, enjoying her friendships with colleagues and the children she served for over twenty years.

Her TOPS meetings and friends were a weekly constant in her life until the very end, as were the summer weekends she adored in her "happy place" at Wildridge Campground at Lobster Lake. She enjoyed relaxing on the deck (enjoying the breeze… as she would say,) going for boat rides and long walks, fishing, and spending time there with her neighbors, friends, and family.

Karen spent her final day at Lobster Lake, which was a gift that she had those final moments spent somewhere she loved so much.  She passed away unexpectedly at the age of 81 on Thursday, August 29, 2024, with family by her side at CentraCare Hospital in St. Cloud.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Dayton and Orel; brother, DeWayne Williamson; brother and sister-in-law, LeRoy and Carol Williamson, and parents-in-law, Arthur and Lucille Hermanson.

Karen was beloved by all who knew her- for her kind and generous heart, warm smile, and sense of humor - she will be deeply missed. Mourning her loss are her husband of 50 years, DeWayne; children, Celyne Hermanson and her son, Chase; Dawn (Brock) Waterbury; Andrea (Nic) Hermanson and their children Adeline and Marvin, and Renae (Jonathon) Murray and their children Finn and Cameron; her sister, Marie (Merrell) Dieken; sister-in-law, Toni Williamson; sister and brother-in-law, Barb and Norm Hendrickson, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation with Karen's family will be on Friday, September 6th, from 5-7 PM at the J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday, September 7th, at 10 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyd, followed by the funeral service at 11 AM. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.