Karen Jean Thompson

Karen Jean Thompson 51, passed away on December 19, 2024. Karen was preceded by her father Stevel L Westover and is survived by her husband Matthew William Thompson and five children and two grandchildren, Caleb Thompson married to Bailey Rigel with two sons Greyson and Clay, Gabrielle married to Mitchell Ward, Laurel married to Jason Frost, Clara, and Heath. She is also survived by her mother Jeanie Westover and four siblings Steven, Boyd, Brian Westover, and Kathy Nielsen.

Karen was born in Gooding Idaho and moved to Cornish Utah and after, Highland Utah. She graduated from American Fork High School in 1991. Karen attended Ricks College and met her husband during her second year there. She obtained her associate's degree from Ricks and after their marriage in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on May, 7th, 1993 they moved to Logan Utah, and attended Utah State University. Karen obtained her bachelor of science in Biology and teaching certificate in 1998. Karen and Matt also started their family during college with their first two children, Caleb and Gabrielle.

After graduation, the couple moved to Kimberly Idaho, and then to Twin Falls. Karen’s first and foremost interest and career was raising her children. Karen was very dedicated to her family and church, school, sports, and activities. Karen also worked throughout her life on a farm growing up and at the local convenience store in Highland. She also worked at care centers, call centers, Shopko, Target, Hospitals, Teaching, and physical therapy. She also shared her talents in a curtain business and in custom canoe shelves. Karen like most had her fair share of challenges including multiple broken noses from falling out of her gooding treehouse and broken bones to contracting myasthenia gravis. It was after she struggled with myasthenia that she was nominated and selected to carry the Olympic torch in the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games. Karen was also involved in community service and served children with supervised parental visits for children in foster care. Karen also served as a court-appointed child advocate. Karen had many talents including piano, organ, clogging, and dance, and participated in local plays. Karen was an avid skier and enjoyed making quilts, crocheting, and gardening. Karen loved to challenge herself and try new things, feeling nothing was impossible. The last 13 years of Karen's life are marked by her two bouts of breast cancer. Karen will be known for her zest for life, strength and perseverance in adversity, fun and spontaneity, and her love and devotion to family. In her final months, she devoted all her energies to her children and grandchildren and will be missed and remembered by them and the many friends she has made.

Funeral Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 847 Eastland Dr N, Twin Falls, ID 83301, Monday December 30, 2024 at 12:00 PM, with a viewing prior starting at 10:00 AM.