Zona Lucille Karsten, 85, of Owatonna, died Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Arbor Garden Place in Eyota, MN.

She was born February 24, 1938 in Ellendale, Minnesota the daughter of Perry and Marion (Schear) Chadwick. She grew up in the Ellendale and Owatonna area. She married Richard Karsten in 1959. The couple lived in Owatonna until 1966 when they moved to Red Wing. Zona moved back to Owatonna in 1989 to care for her mother. She then moved to Arbor Garden Place in Eyota in 2021.

Zona was first and foremost a wife and mother. Following Richard's death in 1979, she went to school and earned her LPN degree. She enjoyed working at the hospital in Red Wing and in Long Term Care in Owatonna. She concluded her working career at Senior Place in Owatonna from which she retired.

She enjoyed reading, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, camping, lefsa making, puzzles, crafts, and working with her flowers outside.

She is survived by her children, David (Betty) Karsten of Stewartville, Annette (Timothy) Caflisch of Rochester, and Stephanie (Ken) Gerondale of Lakewood, CO; grandchildren, Jeremy (Chandra) Karsten, Jessica Karsten (Patrick), Thomas Caflisch (Theresa), Nicholas (Krista) Caflisch, Benjamin Caflisch, Rebecca (Simeon) Marchand; great grandchildren, Anna Karsten, Owen Karsten, Emme Karsten, Maxwell Caflisch, Zoe Caflisch, Olivia Caflisch and Lucy Marchand and sister, Geraldine (Kenn) Breamer of Albert Lea.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Marion; husband, Richard Karsten (1979); son; Richard Karsten, Jr. and daughter, Michelle Karsten; siblings, Dorothy Caswell, Darrell Kubinski and Evonne Caswell.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 27, 2023 at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna with visitation one hour prior. Pastor Lisa Vick will officiate. Interment will be in the Blooming Grove Cemetery, rural Morristown.