Karen Ricklefs

Karen Lee Anderson Ricklefs passed away peacefully on August 25th, 2026 in Rochester,
Minnesota. Her life’s extensive span of interests and activities reflects a consistent theme running through them all. She was always trying to make a difference.
Karen attended Saint Olaf College for two years and then transferred to Iowa State University to experience a larger school. Karen soon met Merlin, who became the love of her life and they married a year later. As the family grew, Karen found volunteer service to be rewarding. She created “Christmas from Many Lands,” co-led a Girl Scout troop, chaperoned the high school band to Europe, worked on multiple enrichment projects, and was the number one fan of her children.
Other community leadership service included president of AAUW, president of the Olmsted Community Hospital Board, founder and director of the Mayo High School College and Career Resource Center, co-founder of Rochester Boys and Girls Club, among others. She filed to run for the Rochester Board of Education on her way to the hospital to deliver their youngest. Upon election, she served three terms and was elected President of the Board, the first woman to have done so since Mrs. Witherstine 52 years before. She went on to found the Rochester Area Intergovernmental Council and the Rochester Public School Foundation, and served seven years as Rotary International District Co-Chair for Education. In the mid-90s Merlin and Karen co-founded Quality Associates International with a theory of leadership for achieving excellence, leading to teaching and lecturing across the US and in Thailand. In addition, they worked extensively with the Chinese Executive MBA program through the University of Minnesota’s China Center.
Karen is survived by her devoted husband Merlin, their children Linda, Lowell (Jodie) and Kristin, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, her sister Jan (Roger), two international exchange students Monica (Norway) and Christel (Sweden), and numerous friends she claimed as family.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be October 24th at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. Visitation will start at 9:30am with the service at 10:30am, followed by a reception.
Memorial Gifts are greatly appreciated to either The National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN (Follow the “Memorial and Tribute Donation” link under “Support” on their website main menu and note that the gift is “in Honor of Karen Ricklefs”) OR The Rochester Public School Foundation (Donate with PayPal on the website or mail a check with “special instructions” to contribute to the “Karen Ricklefs Memorial Fund.”)