Karen Kay Nygaard

Rider Down.

Karen Kay (Francis) Nygaard; Birth: 01 /27/ 1952 – Death: 08/30/2024

Proceeded in death by her Grandparents, Elmer and Violet Hamren, Fred and Charlett (Stoneburg) Francis; Mother, Evelyn Marie Tuschhoff; Brothers, Gene Leroy Francis, and Bruce John Francis; Daughter, Jan Marie Nygaard. Survived by her loving Husband, Fred Nygaard; Brother, Blair Francis; Daughters, Dawn (Dan) Pettit, Danielle (Pete) Hines; Granddaughters, Mikala Doughty, Madison Beach, Nevaeh Beach, Taylor Hines, Ashley (Jake) Sweet; Great-Grandchildren, Talon (Addison) Toop, Harper and Jackson Sweet, Adrienne Tucker.

Karen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1952, to Evelyn and Maynard (Jack) Francis. She moved to Medford, Oregon and lived there until she was 12 years old. She returned to Minnesota in 1964, with her mother and lived in the Brainerd area the rest of her life except for a short period when she lived down south while her husband, Fred was in the Army in Vietnam.

Fred and Karen bought 20 acres southeast of Brainerd around 1974 and raised three independent and feisty girls, a mixture of dogs, cats, and horses. She was a loving mother, she loved animals and passed that love onto her girls. Karen worked for the Brainerd Regional Treatment Center for 35 years retiring in 2007. She visited the Vietnam Memorial in DC and went on several trips out west with Fred. She supported veteran’s, clubs, and charities in support of the service her husband and brothers had given to this country. She understood the sacrifice. She was a member of the Brainerd American Legion Rider’s Post 255. In her youth she developed a love for horses and motorcycles. The first motorcycle she drove in her early teens was a Norton Commando and she had her first horse around that same time. She loved to work with her horses and raise many over the years. Due to health issues she had to give them up. She then began her second favorite hobby, motorcycles. In 2012 she purchased a HD switchback and started riding with her brothers. She rode to Sturgis SD with all three brothers. She rode her motorcycle, by herself, to Coeur d’ Alene Idaho on a memorial ride for her daughter. She rode to Oregon’s Crater Lake and dipped a toe in the Pacific Ocean in Newport Oregon. Last year she enjoyed a ride around Lake Superior.

She did all this riding while fighting cancer. One cannot fathom the amount of strength it required to accomplish those rides. Now, without effort she can ride with her brothers, see her daughter, be free to roam without bounds, chasing the sunsets, riding with the winds.

May she look over her family and friends and find peace in the long ride.