Karlene (Warren) Petersen

Karlene Warren Petersen, 84, of Idaho Falls, passed away November 17, 2022, at Fairwinds-Sand Creek Retirement Community. She was under the care of Alliance Hospice.

Karlene was born in Rupert, Idaho, to the lucky parents of Edith Rose Eldredge and LeRoy Warren. They united a family of his, hers, and ours, five children in all. She grew up in Nampa, Idaho, on the small family farm. In school, she fell in love with music, which became a huge joy for her in life. She was always grateful and recognized the sacrifice her mother made by taking in extra ironing to pay for her piano lessons. Karlene played the piano and sang in the Concert Choir during her high school years.

She attended Ricks College on an academic scholarship where she earned her Associate Degree. She continued her education at Idaho State College for her Bachelor's Degree, and then to Boise State University for her Master's Degree. She was one smart cookie!

In her professional work, she was Director of Education for the LDS Hospital in Idaho Falls. She was in charge of the department of Data Retrieval Risk Management for both Riverview and Parkview. When EIRMC was built, she became Director of Quality Assurance. She also became a Quality Assurance Consultant for all of Southeast Idaho and Western Wyoming. She enjoyed traveling to hospitals in her region to assist them in upping their game in providing quality care for patients. She especially loved it when her family could accompany her. She was a member of the National Quality Assurance Professionals and was the guest speaker at their convention in Houston, Texas, to over 1,000 medical personnel.

In 1962, Karlene went on a double date with a persistent beau, where unfortunately for him, she met and later fell in love with her husband, Ray Petersen, who was the other woman’s date. Ray felt that mutual attraction, and they both immediately dumped their dates and began a romance of their own. They were married in February of 1963. They welcomed their first child, a son, Douglas Ray, in December of 1964. Then came their favorite, a daughter, Diana Kae, in 1966. Karlene cherished being a mother and was very involved in her children's lives. She was a leader in P.T.A., Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She never missed a game of football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, or any activity her children were involved in.

Karlene was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed serving in many callings, but music was her favorite. She served many years as the organist, as well as choir director. She was called upon numerous times to play the piano, guitar, or sing in church. She was blessed with an amazing voice.

She had an especially tender and very generous heart, perhaps we could say her theme song is "Because I Have Been Given Much, I Too Must Give." She was a volunteer with the American Red Cross and the Bonneville County Cancer Society.

She also served on the Board of Directors and as chairman of the Medical/Professional Credit Union. She and Ray were on the National Red Cross Disaster Team and went when hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes had done their damage in Florida, North and South Carolina, Oklahoma, and twice in Texas.

Ray and Karlene were fortunate to enjoy "two" retirements. In their first retirement, they bought a 25 ft Airstream trailer and traveled for twelve years visiting all the 50 states, all of Canada, including Labrador and Newfoundland, and seven states of Mexico. They loved camping closer to home as well and taking their grandchildren on camping and fishing adventures as often as possible.

In their "second" retirement, they purchased a park model trailer at Temple View Trailer Park in St. George, Utah, and for a few years enjoyed being snowbirds and having family join them in the winter for warmer weather and fun.

Although her health prevented her and Ray from serving a mission in the field, they were able to serve in the Family History Mission in St. George, Utah, for two years. Karlene went on to serve an additional mission there after Ray passed. Ray sadly passed away on July 8, 2007, at the age of 69. Karlene continued to live in St. George for three more years, during which time she traveled with friends to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. She continued her hobbies of crocheting, knitting, cross stitch, crafts, tole and oil painting, reading, writing in her journal, and putting her nursing skills to use assisting neighbors and friends.

A stroke and failing health brought her back to Idaho Falls in 2015. She lived for her grandchildren during this time and took them on a cruise and adventure to Alaska where they loaded her onto a helicopter and flew her away to a remote island. From there, they secured her in a toboggan with a team of huskies to mush her around the frozen tundra. They all made memories to last a lifetime.

With worsening health, her last few years she lived at Morning Star Independent Living Center and then Fairwinds Assisted Living Center. She made new friends with her quick and beautiful smile and genuine interest in their lives, but mostly enjoyed engaging her caregivers in conversations and "schooling" them in the correct way to take care of her needs. God bless all of you!

Karlene lived a fulfilling life with confidence in herself and her family. She will be missed by all of us who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her son, Douglas Ray (Lynette) Petersen of Shelley, ID; her daughter, Diana Kae (Todd) Frickey of Rigby, ID; sister, Gloria Palenske of Anchorage, AK; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at the Ucon Cemetery, 3960 East 105th North. The family will visit with friends from 1-1:45 p.m. prior at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road.