Karen L. Baird

KAREN LEE (DOLBEARE) BAIRD, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, age 64, of New Richland, MN lost her battle with cancer on Wednesday afternoon, June 24th 2015 at her home.

Karen was born January 17, 1951 in Bottineau, ND to Lee and Crystal (Gibbs) Dolbeare. She was a 1969 graduate of Willow City High School.  She attended North Dakota State Technical College in Wahpeton where she met Floyd Baird. They were married on June 26, 1971 and raised two children.  Kyann Rebecca, born in 1972 and Clint Wade, born in 1974. The family lived in East Grand Forks and she was a homemaker until 1981.  They then moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where they lived until 2002.  Karen operated her own cleaning business, and did much volunteering within the community.  She especially enjoyed her work with the elderly.  She officially retired when they moved to Minnesota in 2002.  Karen enjoyed gardening, reading and sewing.  She was a devoted, fun grandmother and her grandchildren were her greatest joy.

Karen is survived by her husband, Floyd L. Baird of New Richland, MN, two children, Kai Baird and Sam Sveeggen of Mound, MN, and Clint and Rebecca Baird of Sioux Falls, SD; three grandchildren, Alyson, Lucas and Joni; mother, Crystal Dolbeare of Willow City; mother- in-law, Jean Baird of Moorhead, MN; siblings Jim (Carmen) Dolbeare of Willow City, Craig (Penny) Dolbeare of Bottineau, Tammy (Jeff) Diebold of Willow City, and Scott Dolbeare of Bottineau; 17 nieces and nephews and their children; along with numerous other extended family members and friends. 

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Leroy Dolbeare, brother, Richard Dolbeare, father-in-law, Ralph Baird and maternal and paternal grandparents.

A Celebration of Karen's Life will be conducted at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 11th, 2015, at First Lutheran Church in Willow City, ND with graveside interment to follow.  Cremation has been chosen as final disposition. In lieu of memorials, a college fund has been established for Karen's grandchildren at Minnesota Lakes Bank, Karen Baird Memorial Fund, 2290 Commerce Blvd, Mound, MN 55364. 

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