Karen Dempster

Karen Lindhartsen Dempster passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026, in the presence of family. She was born on August 10, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, to Ogden and Mary Lindhartsen. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Aberdeen, Idaho, where her parents ran a family store.

Karen was the third oldest of eight children. Her siblings are Larry, Gary, Greg, John, Kathy, Mary Ellen, and Cindy. At an early age, she was given responsibility for caring for her younger siblings while her parents worked. This sense of responsibility stayed with her throughout her life.

After graduating from high school, Karen enrolled at Idaho State University. She was extremely gifted in math and had hoped to pursue it as a profession. However, when she discovered she was the only woman in an algebra class of thirty students, she changed majors and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

While at Idaho State University she met her future husband, Don Dempster, who was also studying to become a schoolteacher. They were married in 1963 and soon started a family. Following her graduation, she and Don moved to Halfway, Oregon, where he taught school and she raised three children. In 1970 they returned to Aberdeen to help her mother run the family store and to work the family farm.

Once her children were in junior high school, and never content sitting idle, Karen began working at the University of Idaho Research Center, where she spent 25 years in the wheat department. She enjoyed the challenges of wheat research and later completed her career at the University of Idaho’s Moscow station in the malt barley program. Based in part on her research, Idaho has become the largest malt barley–producing state in the nation.

Karen also enjoyed staying active. At the age of 40 she took up running and went on to participate in 20 consecutive Bloomsday races in Spokane, Washington, often running alongside her younger sister, Mary Ellen. She learned to ski at 43.

As a lifelong Catholic, she practiced her faith by helping others in need and by giving both her time and resources to good causes. She loved working the food bank at her parish. In her later years she knitted slippers—about 240 pairs a year—which were donated to Interfaith Sanctuary and the Agency for New Americans.

She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Don; her children Angela (Rich) and Donald (Lisa); and seven wonderful grandchildren who enriched her life in countless ways. She was preceded in death by her son, Stuart.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 10, 2026 at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.

Karen will be remembered for her quiet strength, generous spirit, and the steady care she gave to her family and to others throughout her life.