Phyllis Karen Lathrop, aged 90, passed peacefully surrounded by family after a long battle with breast cancer. She was born on March 28, 1932, in Ashton, South Dakota to Fred and Ruth Stahl. She lived in Ashton on the family farm with her sisters, Doris and Donna. Karen, as she was always called by friends and family, moved with her family to a small farm outside of Alexandria, Minnesota. She worked on the farm and went to Alexandria High School graduating in 1950. Soon after graduating, she followed her big sister, Doris, to St. Pau,l MN where she found her life’s work in nursing. Her job at Swedish Hospital in St. Paul is where she taught families how to care for loved ones in iron lungs. One of the iron lungs from Swedish Hospital was part of a display about the March of Dimes at the Smithsonian Institution. Later in life she helped set up and work in recovery rooms at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota and at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls, Montana.

Karen was a person who lived her faith. She always followed the greatest commandment, loving God and her neighbors. Upon retirement she helped to set up the Angel Room at St. Vincent DePaul where everything was given free to people in need. It was so important to her that all people are treated with dignity and respect regardless of the circumstances of their lives. Later she helped set up the Emilie Center of the St. Martin de Porres Mission to continue her service to people in need. One of the hardest things that she had to do was retire from the Emilie Center because of her failing health.

She met Thomas James Lathrop, the love of her life, at a church social. They were married on July 19, 1953, at Spruce Hill Lutheran Church. This union produced a son, Michael Lathrop; and daughters, Lori Lathrop, Anita (David) Bueling, and Susan Lathrop. She made sure that she instilled the importance of service to others in her children. They went on to become a teacher (Michael), nurse and pastor (Lori), a loving mother (Anita), and nurse (Susan). It is through the legacy of her children that her compassion for all people lives on.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tom; sister, Doris Christiansen and her husband, Ansel; brother-in-law, Harvey Gunderson; and son-in-law, David Bueling. She is survived by her sister, Donna Gunderson; children, Mike, Lori, Anita, and Susan; grandchildren, Adam (Sarah) Bueling, Eric (Lexxy) Bueling, Kevin Bueling, Rory Kain, and Sean Kain; great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at St. Ann’s Cathedral (715 3^rd Ave. North) at 11:00 a.m. The funeral service will take place at St. Ann’s Cathedral on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Cathedral, Peace Hospice of Montana, or the Emilie Center.