Karen Eloise Thole

Karen Eloise (Knudson) Thole, 85, of Stillwater passed away peacefully on May 20, 2025. Having first survived both ovarian and breast cancer in her sixties, Karen died of natural causes at home at Oak Park Senior Living. Karen was born December 12, 1939, in Fargo, North Dakota to Howard and Ruth (Taklo) Knudson, and was preceded in death by both of her parents and her brother Kurt. Karen was initially survived by her husband George who has since passed, other survivors include children Eric (Amy) and Kiersten (Tony), brother Kent Knudson along with her grandchildren Hans Larson (Amy), Anders Larson (Ellie), Kevin Thole and Lauren Thole (Michael).

Raised in Fargo, Karen graduated from Fargo Central High School and then North Dakota State University (NDSU), where she was a Football Cheerleader and the Queen of the 1959 Lettermen's Ball. Karen graduated in 1961 and a year later she married George Thole, a member of the NDSU football team who hailed from Petaluma California. For the next two plus years Karen taught high school in Berkely California while George was in the Navy. In 1965 the couple moved to Casselton, North Dakota where George started his teaching and coaching career at Central Cass High School and Karen gave birth to son Eric. Daughter Kiersten was born four years later while George was teaching and coaching at Richfield High School. In 1971, the couple moved to their Stillwater home where they lived for the next fifty plus years. Karen ran the household while George taught and coached for the next twenty-nine years at Stillwater High School. George's successful career was the product of Karen's loyal support. While raising children, Karen had teaching stints in both the North St. Paul and Stillwater school districts and she served as the Stillwater High School Dance Line coach for six seasons starting in the fall of 1988.

The family wishes to thank the professionals at Oak Park Senior Living and are humbled by the outpouring of support from the Stillwater Community.

A celebration of life will happen on September 13th at the Stillwater Area High School from 12-4 p.m. Visitations will be from 12-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. The program will be from 2-3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Stillwater Ponies Touchdown Club. Memorials can be made by check or Venmo (Thole Memorial-@Ponies-Football) checks can be mailed to: Ponies Touchdown Club, P.O. Box 2064, Stillwater, MN 55082.