Karleen Fodstad

Karleen Dorcas Peterson died peacefully surrounded by family on December 25, 2024 at Fargo Sanford Medical Center at the young age of 41.

 She was born in Glenwood, MN to the parents of Alan and Becky (Hasse) Peterson on May 5th, 1983. She was the 5th of 8 children. Karleen went to elementary school in Elbow Lake, MN and graduated from Minnewaska Area High School in Glenwood, MN in 2002. She then attended Alexandria Technical College for a short time. She worked at several jobs throughout the years, but mostly as a CNA at a few different facilities.

 Karleen eventually relocated to Zimmerman in 2009, and soon married the love of her life, Jason Fodstad, September 11, 2010. Shortly after they were married, she started having medical problems which made it difficult for her to work. This is when her struggle with alcohol intensified. After 9 years in Zimmerman, they downsized to a camper to set out and explore parts of America, and soon called Arizona home, along with their dogs, Michael and Diesel and cat, Allen. In February 2023, Karleen returned to Minnesota to receive treatment and try to overcome her addiction.

 After multiple ER visits, ambulance rides, hospital stays and attempts at treatment, she succumbed to her long battle and her body gave out. Karleen brought joy to so many people during her life, but failed to see her own worth. Her choices caused a lot of people pain, heartache, frustration and anger. But, it is important that we remember Karleen for who she was before the demons of addiction took over her life. Her funny, sarcastic whit. Her loving, kind words when you were having a bad day. The way she grew to embrace her middle name, Dorcas, even when people didn’t believe that was her real name. Her boisterous and crazy impression of a gorilla. Wow, was that loud. We need to remember Karleen when her priority was spending time with her nieces and nephews, and the people she loved. The way she would make a fool of herself, just to make you laugh, even in public. We need to realize that when someone we love is struggling with addiction, they don’t want to hurt others, it’s that they are at the mercy of the darkness that holds them down. It doesn’t mean they don’t love us. Karleen loved hunting, fishing, and swimming. Anything that was done outdoors. Playing games with family and friends was something Karleen also looked forward to. She loved watching and reading anything relating to true crime, we still wonder if she was planning something... She loved palm trees and all things tropical, especially her beach trips with Kimi. She ALWAYS had the best tan, and gave the evil eye to anyone with a better tan than hers! She enjoyed music, hated singing, but loved to dance. Most of all, being with the people she loved was her passion. Karleen is survived by her husband, Jason Fodstad, mother, Becky Peterson and siblings: Kimi Quirt, Kari Peterson (Brad), Kandi Gilbert (Mike), Katie Swanson (Shane), Kendra Peterson (Aaron), Kayle, and Danielle Paulson (Blake). Her beloved nieces and nephews: Jordan (Sebastian), Nicholas, Chey (Cody), Aydan, Dayle, Tayler, Rylie, Julian, Kherington, Kyiah, Parker, Emmett, Arthur, Melvin, Piper, Viktor, and Skyler. Along with many uncles, aunts, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her father, Alan Peterson, and grandparents Philip and Vivian Peterson, Melvin and Grace Hasse, and her aunts, Aloise, and Penny.

A Memorial Service is set for 3:00 PM Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Elbow Lake with a visitation one hour prior.

Arrangements by Erickson-Smith Funeral Home of Elbow Lake.