Karen Steen

Karen M. Steen, age 81, Sisseton, passed away Monday, July 14, 2025, at her home per her request after spending time off and on at memory care facilities due to dementia and heart issues.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, July 23, at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington with Rev. Karie Geyer and Vicar Pat Schubert officiating.  Music will be provided by organist Deb Bredvik.

Burial will be in the Concordia Cemetery, rural Sisseton.  Pallbearers will be her sons Kevin and Kraig Steen along with her grandsons Austin Grajczyk, Austin Steiner, Braimen and Riley Steen.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the church and will continue Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Karen Mavis Martinek was born August 23, 1943, to Emil and Jeanette (Stowe) Martinek in Sisseton, SD.   She grew up with four other siblings, Vernell, Larry, Janis, and Sandra.  Karen helped with chores on the farm and on the trap line with her dad.  Every Sunday was spent at the Stowe farm with cousins and other relatives.  A big part of her life was attending family reunions and holiday gatherings.  She graduated from New Effington High School in 1961 and graduated in 1963 from the Stewart School of Hairstyling in Aberdeen, SD.

On February 15, 1964, Karen was united in marriage to Kervin "Toby" Steen at Zion Lutheran Church in New Effington.  Toby and Karen farmed and raised Hereford cattle in Grant Township.  Together they raised four children, Kevin, Koryn, Kolleen, and Kraig.

Through the '80s and into the early '90s, Karen owned and operated her own hair salon in New Effington.  She then worked in customer service in the Dakota Club at the Dakota Magic Casino for twelve years.   Toby, Karen, and Kraig also did custom combining in Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota from 1995 to 2009.

Karen was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and was active in Women's Circle and quilting.  She enjoyed taking in her children's sports activities and was active in helping with the 4-H program.  She bowled in New Effington and Sisseton for many years.

Karen and Toby enjoyed going out with neighbors and friends for supper or dancing in earlier years.  She liked putting puzzles together, playing cards, and listening to music.  Karen was an avid Minnesota Twins and NFL football fan.

Karen loved vegetable and flower gardening, as well as cooking meals and baking for the family.  She always had her beloved Sheltie dogs by her side.  The family enjoyed going on trips to various places but often went to the Black Hills.  An avid quilter, she made many beautiful quilts for family and friends over the years.  Karen was a very loving and caring person and will be greatly missed by her family.

Survivors include her children, Kevin (Cindy) Steen of Brookings, Koryn Steen (Doug Engels) of Watertown, and Kraig (Becky) Steen of Sisseton; grandchildren, Ashley (Jeremy) Wegner, Austin (Kali) Grajczyk, Tiana (Daniel) Hamilton, Kaitlyn (Ricky) Telkamp, Austin Steiner, Braimen, Riley, and Berklee Steen; great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Joshua Steen, Elliott Hamilton, and Paxton and Jackson Wegner; sisters, Janis Swenson of Goodwin, SD, and Sandra Martinek of Sisseton.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband Kervin "Toby" Steen who passed away October 11, 2022; daughter, Kolleen Steen who passed away July 3, 2024; grandson, Weston Steen; parents, Emil and Jeanette; and brothers, Larry Martinek and Vernell Martinek.