Karen Virginia Foster

Karen was born in 1934 to parents Walter Gustafson and Virginia Gustafson, and grew up as the eldest of 4 children. She met John Foster, the boy across the street turned into her childhood sweetheart, and eventually they married in 1955. Together, Karen and John raised 5 children. An activity the family loved was traveling around the world together to various different places.

The Fosters traveled every summer to camp in their travel trailer all across the United States and Canada. They also made several trips to Europe and enjoyed cruising to Alaska.

Karen was a loving housewife for several years until, in the 1980s, she became a teacher’s assistant at a local high school, and worked there for many years. While at her job as an ESL assistant, the Fosters took in 2 boys from Vietnam who they considered family.

Karen was also very musically inclined, and was a part of her church choir for almost 50 years.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Virginia Gustafson; the love of her life John Foster; daughter, June Michalski; son, Andrew Foster; grandson, Jonathan Williams; granddaughter, Angela Schacht Foster; and sister, Ann Theander.

Surviving Karen are her siblings, Mark Gustafson and Barbara Crites; children, Daniel Foster, Christine Foster, and Mary Williams; her grandchildren, Sarah Michalski, Emily Michalski, Dakota Foster, Sierra Tryon, and Elizabeth Williams; and Sanh Tran and Son Tran.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Karen's honor can be made towards Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church or SnowCAP Community Charities.

Services will take place Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church, located at 1740 SE 139th St., Portland, OR 97233.