Shakopee - Sister Karen Thein, SSND, 84, died April 29, 2026, in Shakopee. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Windermere Chapel, 1705 Windermere Way, Shakopee, with Visitation at 10:00; Sharing of Memories at 10:30; and a Funeral Liturgy at 11:00. Livestreaming will be available at www.ssndcp.org/live/blc Burial in the Good Counsel Cemetery, Mankato, will follow at 2:15.

Sister Karen was born in Clara City, Minnesota. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Waseca in 1960 and entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato that same year. She professed First Vows in 1962. She taught high school language and religion classes in several Catholic high schools, including Mankato Loyola (1969-72) and Good Counsel Academy (1973-74). She continued her teaching ministry and added parish ministry while serving in Patzun, Guatemala 1974-88. Following her return to the United States she ministered to Hispanic parishioners in Elgin and Rockford, Illinois; Sioux City and Marshalltown, Iowa; Albert Lea and Worthington, Minnesota, and Kennett and Cuba, Missouri.

Sister Karen is survived by her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Eugene and Emma (Tomes) Thein, her sisters Patricia Ann Thein and LaVonne Welter and her brothers Eugene and Rodney. A longer obituary and a recording of her funeral will be available at www.ssndcp.org/obituaries Memorials may be directed to the School Sisters of Notre Dame; 11 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 310; Mankato, MN 56001.

McNearney-Schmidt Funeral and Cremation, Shakopee is handling arrangements.