Karen Lewis

Karen Lynne (Anderson) Lewis was born (according to her mother) just before lunch on April 14, 1962, in Northfield, Minnesota to James (Jim) Wesley Anderson and Marian Lorraine Anderson. She was the youngest of four children, each born three years apart. As the youngest and the only girl, she gave her brothers what-for at every opportunity, and enjoyed being the princess-tormentor to them. In the early 1970s, Jim was manager of the Covenant Pines Bible Camp near McGregor, MN. While the boys were old enough to be workers at the camp, Karen was an unofficial mascot around the camp and could reliably be found at any time near the water. The family toured the Covenant churches of the Twin Cities Metro area to raise interest in camping and performed musically together for many years.

Jim was a music teacher and her mother was a homemaker until Karen went to school in Burnsville, MN, at which time Marian went to work for the school district supporting their foodservice program. Karen fondly remarked about several food-themed musical numbers that she was volunteered to participate in. Graduating from Burnsville High School in 1980, she attended Northwestern University for a year before going into the workforce at several Minnesota institutions including Norwest Investment Services and North Star Title.

Karen married Calvin Dirks in 1981, and the marriage ended in 1985.

In 1990, Karen participated in United Cursillo (UEC) Coed #1 beginning a long running joy of performing music for weekenders and community members. It was at this time that she met, but didn’t yet fall for Thane Lewis, though the signs were present. Over the course of the next 15 years, Karen began attending Augsburg College, following in her father’s footsteps as a music educator, when she graduated in 1991.

In 1995 Karen was diagnosed with diabetes related renal failure. Through testing, all three of her brothers were deemed possible donor matches, though her next older brother, Scott, was determined to be the ideal match (much to the disappointment of her oldest brother Brian). On Easter week of 1995, Karen received a kidney from Scott and they both got to meet Mean Gene Okerlund of WWF fame while they were recovering from surgery at U of M Hospital. Karen always remembered the superb treatment by Dr. John Najarian in the surgery.

In 1999 Karen was commissioned to be music director for a UEC women’s weekend and Thane was to be giving a talk at the companion men’s weekend. God did a thing and a longstanding friendship became divinely inspired love. They were married at the Stone Arch Bridge in Northeast Minneapolis on July 22, 2000. In 2002 Thane entered a career as a Science Educator and Karen worked at Richfield State Bank Trust Department. Over the course of several years, a succession of teaching positions moved them to Northfield, Minnesota, Hutchinson and Eden Prairie. During that time, they became active in the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) and served with them doing music and any helpful thing.

In May 2011 Karen suffered a heart attack and underwent bypass surgery that August. At the same time, Thane was packing their home to move to Central Nebraska for a teaching position at Anselmo-Merna High School. Karen joined him there in September. Karen taught vocal music in their home and became active in Bible studies and small groups they led together and separately over the next 16 years through Broken Bow Evangelical Free Church. CMA was likewise a longstanding ministry they served in together. The years in Nebraska were her favorite and she considered herself a Nebraskan at heart.

Karen passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest in the early hours of October 5, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Thane, brothers Brian (Sandy) Anderson, Brad (Robin) Anderson and Scott (Kirsten) Anderson as well as 10 nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father James, mother Marian and her beloved aunt and nickname sake Ruth Bodin. She will be missed as “Aunt Pooh” by her nieces and nephews.

Memorials services will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Evangelical Free Church in Broken Bow. Burial will follow in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. A visitation and time to greet the family will be held on Friday, October 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Evangelical Free Church. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com