Karen Sofie (Odegaard) Starr
Karen Starr lived a life of adventure in the pages of books, in travels around the world and in wonderful times with family and friends. She leaves behind a family who adored her and will miss her greatly.
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Karen Sofie Starr, age 64, of Vancouver, Wash., on Nov. 6, 2024. Karen was born July 19, 1960, in Moses Lake, Wash., to Olaf and Grethe Odegaard. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Karen grew up on the family farm in Block-40 area. She attended school in Moses Lake and graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1978, then went on to attend Washington State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. After graduating from WSU in 1982, Karen worked for a time as a security guard at the King County Youth Detention Center in Seattle.
Karen met Joel in 1983, and they married in 1985. Karen and Joel moved to Portland, Oregon in 1986 and started two Shoe Stop Shoe Repair businesses. Karen transitioned to full-time motherhood in 1987, being blessed with the birth of Kurt Olaf Starr in 1987 and Andrew Jerry Starr in 1989. Karen dearly loved the time she spent with her boys. Karen later returned to the workforce when the boys entered school, working as a Library Media Assistant for the Evergreen School District in 1997, primarily at Silver Star Elementary for 24 years, until her retirement in 2023. She also provided on-call and evening assistance to Vancouver Public Libraries. Karen thoroughly enjoyed her work in the school libraries and inspired the love of reading in many of her students. She was always reading children’s and young readers’ books so she would know what stories to recommend to her students. Karen could also be found helping with after-school sports programs, as she felt that encouraging children in activities and fitness was important.
Karen had a rich life full of interests, hobbies and passions. She was an avid reader, enjoyed taking photos of her family and travels, and was skilled in cross-stitch and needlepoint. She loved traveling, especially to Norway, where she visited family several times. She also had adventures to Sweden, Italy, Spain, England, Ireland and Scotland. She was deeply connected to her Norwegian heritage and was a member of Leif Erikson Sons of Norway Lodge in Seattle. Karen hiked sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon and Washington and completed a section of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. An active and fit individual, Karen was a regular at the gym, enjoying RIPPED classes. She loved nature, walking and hiking, and had a special fondness for her WSU Cougar and Seahawk football teams. She would always dress in full fan gear for every game, even if she was just watching the game in her own living room.
Karen’s life was marked by her love and devotion for her family and friends, her sense of adventure, her deep connection to her Norwegian heritage, and her dedication to her community. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and devoted friend who touched many lives with her kindness and passion. Karen was loyal and steadfast in her friendships and exhibited quiet strength and determination in all she did. She was a great listener and sounding board for many. She holds a special place as “Tante” to two of her great nephews, Ethan and Erik, who thought of her as another grandmother. She always remembered all her great nieces and nephews' birthdays and could be counted on to supply them with a new book or two.
Karen is survived by her devoted husband of 39 years, Joel Starr, and their two sons, Kurt Starr and Andrew Starr (Rachel), all of Vancouver. She is also survived by her mother, Grethe Odegaard, and her brother, Iver Odegaard (Laurie), both of Moses Lake.
Karen cherished her relationships with her extended family, including her special Aunts (Tante's) in Norway, Karen Ekern, Synnove Nicolaisen, as well as the entire Dilling Family. She leaves three nieces, Mariel, Jessica and Annalise, nephew Lars, and nine great-nieces and nephews. On Joel’s side, Karen is also survived by her three sisters-in-law, Janet, MaryJo and Margie, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Olaf Odegaard.
The Starr family would like to thank all who encouraged and supported Karen throughout her illness, it meant so much to her.
A celebration of Karen’s life will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m., at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash. There will be a live streaming link (*please see directions below) for those who cannot physically attend. The meet-and-greet will start at 12:30 p.m. and the reception will follow the celebration of Karen’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Karen’s honor. They will distribute donations to charities that align with Karen’s interest in childhood development.
In the future, Karen will be laid to rest on the family farm gravesite in Moses Lake attended by family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. May her memory live on in the hearts of those she touched.
*Please access the below link, which will take you to St. Andrew Lutheran website. Once there click on "Visit Our YouTube Channel." This will direct you to the livestream of Karen’s celebration of life. It will also be recorded and stored at this location for future viewing.