Obituary for Karen Yvonne Jacobs (Flaten)
Karen Yvonne (Flaten) Jacobs entered the world weighing only 2 pounds 14 ounces on September 2, 1944, in Thief River Falls MN. Her family lived 40 miles away and as her mom was there for a 6-month checkup, she went into labor. Karen spent many weeks in the hospital incubator cared for by compassionate nurses who named her “Peewee”. The hospital had just received the incubator as it was still brand new in the box! She fit in a shoebox when she came home to the farmhouse at Strathcona. She was placed near the open oven door for warmth and her aunt came to help feed her frequently with an eye dropper. Many extended families lived nearby so family gatherings involved food, conversation, and playing with cousins. The grass was trampled down between willows and trees in the woods for “playhouse rooms.” Stones often became dolls.
The church was an integral part of their lives. Vacation Bible School was attended by walking or riding double on a bike. Karen’s walk with God was so powerful it drove her to travel at her own expense to Australia and then to communist China where she and others snuck bibles into the country and distributed them at night at great risks to their safety and well-being. In fact, one of the members was caught and sent to prison for a while until they were eventually released. This gave her a close connection and empathy for the Chinese people that lasted for the rest of her life.
Karen graduated from Greenbush High School and School of Business. She moved to Medford Oregon where she worked for Attorneys and raised a family as a single mom working tirelessly to provide. Later she relocated to Oak Harbor Washington to be close to family where she again worked for attorneys Cohen, Manni, and Thune. After retiring, she worked for the school district teaching up until Covid. She was married and divorced. Her children are Darcie (Bill) Burgoyne and Shawn Haugen of Oak Harbor. She had 4 grandchildren, Briana, Joshua, Sarah, and Matthew. 5 great-grandchildren, Shayla, Jaxson, Bryer, Shae, and Alexus. Brother Mancer David Flaten, Virginia, Sister Maryl (Neal) Scott.
Preceded in death by parents Mancer and Nora (Gjovik) Flaten and son-in-law Bill Burgoyne.
She passed peacefully surrounded by family on the 26th of July 2022. Her mother’s birthday. She lived a life of great integrity and was respected, adored, and loved by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held on August 4th at 11:00 am at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor, Washington.
The church was an integral part of their lives. Vacation Bible School was attended by walking or riding double on a bike. Karen’s walk with God was so powerful it drove her to travel at her own expense to Australia and then to communist China where she and others snuck bibles into the country and distributed them at night at great risks to their safety and well-being. In fact, one of the members was caught and sent to prison for a while until they were eventually released. This gave her a close connection and empathy for the Chinese people that lasted for the rest of her life.
Karen graduated from Greenbush High School and School of Business. She moved to Medford Oregon where she worked for Attorneys and raised a family as a single mom working tirelessly to provide. Later she relocated to Oak Harbor Washington to be close to family where she again worked for attorneys Cohen, Manni, and Thune. After retiring, she worked for the school district teaching up until Covid. She was married and divorced. Her children are Darcie (Bill) Burgoyne and Shawn Haugen of Oak Harbor. She had 4 grandchildren, Briana, Joshua, Sarah, and Matthew. 5 great-grandchildren, Shayla, Jaxson, Bryer, Shae, and Alexus. Brother Mancer David Flaten, Virginia, Sister Maryl (Neal) Scott.
Preceded in death by parents Mancer and Nora (Gjovik) Flaten and son-in-law Bill Burgoyne.
She passed peacefully surrounded by family on the 26th of July 2022. Her mother’s birthday. She lived a life of great integrity and was respected, adored, and loved by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held on August 4th at 11:00 am at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor, Washington.