Karen Kuster

Karen Lynn Kuster received her wings and flew away from her earthly home on Jones Drive on April 2, 2024.

Karen was born on June 29, 1957 in Lewistown, Mt to Frank Kuster and Connie (DeIlwo) Kuster. She lived with her parents and younger brother Bob in several small Montana towns as Frank was transferred by the Great Northern Railroad.

When Karen was ten, her parents separated and she moved with her mother and brother to Choteau, Mt where her mother's family lived.

Karen attended Choteau schools, graduating from Choteau High School in 1975. She was active in several sports including rodeo, swimming, basketball and track. When she graduated, she held several school records in hurdling and was annoyed when only a few years later Laura Scott broke them all.

After graduation, Karen moved to Helena where she worked for the State of Montana. She married Scott Frickle in 1977. They were later divorced.

Karen joined the skydiving club in Helena. She was involved with the sport for many years and made over 800 jumps. She met a fellow skydiver Pat Schraufnagel at a jump meet and they were married in 1981.

Karen moved to Great Falls where Pat was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base. They later moved to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where Pat served as a skydiving coach. They went their separate ways and Karen returned to Montana in 1983.

Karen lived in Bozeman and Helena until 1998 when she moved to Pocatello to begin many adventures with her skydiving friend Lorne Engleson. They enjoyed collecting rocks, camping (especially the Yankee Fork), hiking with the ever-present dogs, garage sales, the Pocatello Farmer's Market, attending Humane Society events, ISU basketball games (Go Bengals!) and weekly visits to various favorite locations on the Snake River below American Falls.

Karen worked for the Allstate call center in Pocatello until she retired in March of 2023.

Karen made a second career of taking in stray 4 legged animals. She adopted many cats and dogs from the shelters and her home was home to 4 cats (Finn, Otis, Lizzie, and Orange) and 1 dog (Otis) when she left us.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her bother Bob (Jen) Kuster of Shelby, Mt, her best friend and love Lorne Engleson, lifelong friends Mike Lynch of Helena and Vicki Baker of Bynum and four nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held in Choteau, MT at St Josephs at 11:00 AM on May 13th.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family below.