Karen Lidstrand

Karen Lidstrand, March 25, 1941 – December 5, 2025

Karen (Swanson) Lidstrand, age 84, was born to Harry and Lillian (Olson) Swanson in Fremont, Nebraska on March 25, 1941. Her parents had recently moved to Fremont from Uehling, Nebraska where her older sister and brother Mary and Harry Dale were born. She was given the same name as her maternal grandmother, Karin (Carrie) Olson and her maternal great grandmother, Karin Olsdotter (Karin is the Swedish spelling for Karen).

When Karen was six the family moved from Fremont to Omaha, and she attended Park Grade School for seven years. She took clarinet lessons and loved working in the school library. She enjoyed riding the streetcar to downtown Omaha to shop with her mother, Lillian. She started piano lessons at age twelve. She graduated from Belvedere Grade School and then attended North High School, class of 1959, where she was a varsity cheerleader and a member of the tennis and volleyball teams. Here she would meet her husband, Donald Lidstrand, who was on the North High School football team. They married in 1960 and moved to Crete, Nebraska where Don graduated from Doan College. Their first-born child, Timothy, was born in Crete in 1961. Her family moved back to Omaha, and they had four more children, Jeffrey, Scott and Kristin who were consecutive in age and five years later the baby of the family, Amy was born. Living just a block away from her parent’s home near the Keystone pool was a true joy to her and her children. Outgrowing the Grand Avenue home her family moved to the Maple Village area where many close friendships were formed, both by children and parents, during their many years in this home.

Karen graduated from nursing school and worked as an LPN. She also worked as a medical secretary and secretary. She very much enjoyed decorating, writing, Welcome Wagon Club, Metro Women’s Club, playing bridge and bunco, shopping, and caring for her five children, her nearest grandchild, Jim, and her two cats, Samantha and Mindy. Her life was further enriched by the blessings of five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren who will carry forward her legacy of loving kindness and strength.

Survived by her children, Jeffrey, Scott (Cindy), Kristin and Amy; her grandchildren, James, Stephanie, Ashleigh, Danielle and Nicholas; many great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, Harry Swanson and Lillian (Olson) Swanson, her loving son Timothy, her loving brother and sister, Harry Dale (Joyce) and Mary (Mirl).

Karen was loved by many, and her presence will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her life was marked by steadfast love, commitment to her family and remarkable strength.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to the Arthritis Foundation.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Christ Community Church (404 S 108th Ave, Omaha, NE 68154)