Karen Padgett

Karen Kay (Toews) Padgett, 76, of Rochester died November 23, 2020, at her home in Rochester, MN. Karen was born at home on January 2, 1944 in Lamberton, MN, to Peter and Marie (Stoesz) Toews. Karen was married to her husband, Larry on August 7, 1965 in Mankato, MN. She graduated from Butterfield High School in 1962 and attended Northwestern Bible School in Minneapolis in 1963. She initially worked for a manufacturing company in St. James, MN and at Mankato State University in Mankato, MN as a keypunch operator. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Rochester, MN. After their move, she was employed for five years at the Mayo Clinic, also as a keypunch operator. In 1971, she began employment with Rochester Public Schools and worked for them for 33 years in many different schools/areas: Central Middle School, Elton Hills, Hoover and Gage Elementary schools, Kellogg Middle School and the Research and Assessment Dept. After retiring, Karen worked part-time as an every-other weekend receptionist at The Homestead of Rochester and also worked online jobs with Student Paths and College Inside Track. Karen enjoyed learning computer technology, reading and traveling. Most memorable were trips on a Caribbean cruise and to Hawaii with her immediate family. She also enjoyed the many trips she took with her husband, her sister and brother-in-law all over the United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico. Karen professed her personal faith in Jesus Christ as a young child at her mother's knees. She was raised in the North Butterfield Mennonite Church (Butterfield, MN) and was baptized into the confession of her faith at the age of 16. Karen was a charter member of the Berean Community Church in Rochester; and at the time of her death, she was a member of Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester. Over the years, Karen served as a Sunday school teacher, organist, women's ministry leader, choir member and also sang for 10 years as part of the Second Wind ladies barbershop double quartet. She also enjoyed attending many women's Bible studies where she developed several lifelong friendships. She was a strong believer in prayer and loved the Lord. She thanked Him daily for all the blessings He bestowed on her family throughout the years. One special blessing was the ability to winter in the Fort Myers, Florida area for many years. Along with many trips to the beach, Karen enjoyed the companionship and fellowship of her many friends from the churches they attended in the area as well as those in the Palmetto Palms community. She is survived by her husband, Larry; son, Denny (LuEvan) of Rochester, MN; two grandchildren, Kylie (Shaun) Groetesma of Seattle, Washington and Jordan (Kathryn) Padgett of Forest City, IA; two precious great-granddaughters, Isla and Myra; sister, Angela (Raymond) Wiens of Rochester, and special nieces and nephews; Kayla (Mark) Carter of Mounds View, MN, Karmen (Lyndon) Clark of Plainview, MN and Kyle (Stacy) Wiens of Menomonie, WI. She was preceded in death by her son Darin; a brother, Kermit; and her parents. A Memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Calvary Evangelical Free Church 5500 25th Ave. NW, Rochester, MN 55901 with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. A livestream of the service can be viewed at Calvary Evangelical Free Church You Tube page. Memorials are preferred to Calvary Evangelical Free Church's music ministry, PossAbilities of Rochester, MN or Mayo Clinic Rochester Neurology Department. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Padgett family; to share a special memory or leave a condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com