lschlager passed away on March 13, 2023, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease at Edgewood Memory Care in Brookings, SD.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 20, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Harvey, North Dakota. Fr. Kevin Boucher will officiate and burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, Fessenden, North Dakota in the spring. Visitation will be from 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19, with a rosary and vigil service at 4:30 p.m. at the church. Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Fessenden, North Dakota.
Karen was born in Kensal, ND, on Dec. 5, 1950, to Joseph and Mildred Clarys. She grew up on the family farm near Courtenay, ND.
She was very active in her school and community which led her to being the Stutsman County Dairy Princess in 1968. She attended Valley City State and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education in 1971.
She married the love of her life on June 1, 1971, Douglas Wayne Olschlager, at St. Mary’s Church in Courtenay, ND. Shortly after, they moved to Killdeer, ND, where she taught fifth grade for three years. She then paused her career to raise a family.
In 1978, the family moved to Williston, where she helped Doug start his insurance business. She jumped back into her passion and taught Kindergarten at the St. Joseph Catholic school.
In 1981, the family moved to Fargo, because of the insurance business and two years later to Bismarck where she served as a cub scout Den leader, CCD teacher, church song leader, and substitute teacher.
In 1988, they moved to the Olschlager farm in the Fessenden / Harvey area where she continued her teaching career totaling over 30 years.
She had spent the last few years at St. Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey, ND, and then at Edgewood Memory Care in Brookings, SD.
Karen had a passion for the classroom and cherished every moment of her teaching career. She loved to spend her time playing the accordion, singing, planting flowers, picking weeds, cooking, and baking. She was active in Homemakers, Christian women and in the community. Above and beyond all of that, she excelled as a wife, mother, and grandmother – always, going out of her way to help those around her. If you knew her, you loved her.
She is survived by her four children, Bradley (Beth)of Harvey, Travis (Elissa) of Harvey, Scott (Christine) of Osakis, MN and Deann (Justin) Stanley of Brookings, SD; 15 grandchildren, Jade, Taylor, Sean, Brennen, Kaitlyn, Ethan, Emmarose, Adelynne, Gage, Tate, Rowan, Ava, Cruz, Lyric, Briar; Sisters: Carol (Robert) Goffe, Courtenay, ND and Diane (Steve) Silkett, Tabor, IA; Brothers: Ronald (Bonnie) Clarys, Fargo, ND, Mark (Jodi) Clarys, Williston, ND, Joe (Genise) Clarys, Williston, ND, Gerald (Nancy) Clarys, Courtenay, ND, Bernard (Della) Clarys, Fargo, ND, Kenny Clarys, Courtenay.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Wayne Olschlager and parents Joseph and Mildred Clarys.
