Karen A. Kast

Karen Albertine Kast, 85, of Idaho Falls, passed away August 15, 2026, at Fairwinds-Sand Creek Retirement Community. She was under the care of Hospice of Eastern Idaho.

Karen was born October 25, 1940, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Albert Frank Kast and Orlinda Albertena Fennewald Kast. For nearly 86 years, Karen lived a passionate, resolute, resilient, and fiercely independent life. She had a striking presence, impeccable taste, and tremendous insight and wisdom. Strong-willed, she rarely wavered once her mind was made up. She loved deeply and expected strength and respect from those around her.

She grew up and attended schools in Buhl, Idaho and graduated from Buhl High School in 1958. After finishing high school, she competed in the local Lions Club’s Beauty Pageant and held the title of Miss Buhl in 1959. She attended Boise State Junior College where she received her associates degree.

After college, she married her high school sweetheart, Jack Mark Flynn on August 10, 1961, in Buhl, Idaho. His work for the bank gave them the opportunity to live in various cities and towns in Idaho, including Pocatello, Boise, Marsing, and Moscow, before finally settling down in Idaho Falls in 1969.

Karen worked as a Medical Technologist and as a Therapeutic Massage Therapist for a combined 45 years. After working for Dr. Julian De Bruyn Kops office for 30 years, she retired from Medical Technology to continue her Massage Therapy business, and to spend time doing the things she loved: caring for her garden and her Siamese cats.

In the spring and summer, she loved gardening, gently tending to her beautiful roses, fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs. At family gatherings, she brought salads, made with ingredients clipped from her garden.

In the fall and winter, she could often be found enthralled in a good book, cooking a comforting soup, making berry jam, or browsing catalogs for gifts for those she loved.

She was a member of the Baha'i Faith. She learned about the Baha’i Faith while in college from Bertha and Elizabeth Adelmann of Boise and she remained devoted throughout her life.

She enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, and vacationing to Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico.

Later in life, Friends and family would often find her sitting in her rocking chair wrapped in a cozy blanket or sweater, with tea or coffee nearby, a crossword puzzle and pencil on the end table, and her beloved Siamese cats within reach. She was also not one to pass up an opportunity to soak in the hot springs at Heise—all year round.

Karen expressed her love in many ways: playing the flute in the Idaho Falls Symphony as a young mother, tending to patients in Dr. DBK’s office, caring for her grandchildren, and comforting others through her massage therapy skills.

Karen lived life on her own terms, loved in her own distinct way, and left an imprint on those fortunate enough to know her.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Flynn (Michael) Duarte of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Derek (Laurel Steinkamp) Flynn of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Jason (Heather Russell) Flynn of Moscow, ID; brother-in-law, Richard "Dick" Flynn of Meridian, ID; sister-in-law, Sherry Flynn Jacobsen of Nampa, ID; and 6 grandchildren, Shannon Ladan (Tyghe) Speidel of Arlington, VA, Ashlyn Rezvan of San Francisco, CA, Cody Jack Flynn of Missoula, MT, Chad Martin Flynn of Idaho Falls, ID, Colm Marcus Albert Flynn of Moscow, ID, and Declan Jack David Flynn of Moscow, ID.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Orlinda Kast; sister, Gertrude Kast; daughter, Kari Albertine Flynn; son, Jordan Flynn; husband, Jack Mark Flynn; and her sister-in-law, Sue Flynn Weaver.

Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, where private family services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to either the Rescue Mission of Idaho Falls (https://ifrescuemission.org/ ), or the Northwest Infant Survival & SIDS Alliance (NISSA) organization (https://nwsids.org/) would be appreciated.