Karen Pugmire

KAREN ANDERSON PUGMIRE

Our Mom, Karen Pugmire passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, October 24, 2025 at the age of 86. She was born August 28,1939, in Newton, Utah, to Bryant Anderson and Leona Beckstead. She was the 2nd child and only girl with 6 brothers. Oh, how she wished she could have had a sister.

She spent most of her childhood days in Newton.

All we heard from her for the past 4 ½ years since Dads passing, was "I wish your dad would come get me." So, we suppose Dad felt his vacation was over and reached his hand to her and walked her home. The thought of her and Dad together again brings us so much peace and comfort. Her life became a world of sadness and loneliness that we as her children and grandchildren could never seem to fill as much as we tried.

Mom and Dad, met on a date with friends when she was just 16 and he was 19. Somehow during the course of that date, she snagged her nylons and told him, "You owe me a new pair of nylons." Sure enough, he showed up at her house a few days later with a new pair of nylons. Mom saw him pull up in his fancy car and she didn't want to see him. She sent her little brother out to tell him she wasn't home. Dad figured something was up, so he asked Moms little brother, "Did Karen send you out to tell me that?" He innocently answered yes. So, she was busted and came out and their love developed from there. She often wondered why he came back but was touched and impressed by the gesture. Mom married that handsome man on June 29th, 1956, in Salt Lake City and enjoyed 65 years of marriage until his passing in 2021.

They built a life and family together that included 3 absolutely adorable and perfect children, Kim, Brett and Karie.

Mom had a few odd jobs through out their life, but was mainly a homemaker. It was always important to her and Dad that she be home to run buck shot on their 3 kids. And she preferred that as well.

She had an incredible talent to truly make our house a home. She was HGTV before there was HGTV. She was always painting and decorating something or refinishing a piece of furniture that she found. She could see things in her mind and then create them. She truly had a talent with decorating and an eye for putting things together that were just beautiful.

Mom and Dad loved the Bear Lake Valley. When the opportunity came up to purchase the old farm house Dad was born and raised in, in St. Charles, Idaho. He gathered us kids together and we bought it as a family. Many summers were spent loving and enjoying that place. Many memories were created over the last 34 years fixing and repairing that home together. Their hard work and finger prints will always be a part of that old home as we continue to care for and enjoy our summers at Bear Lake as a family.

We will miss Mom's quirky little ways, like inviting people to meet up at the Westerner, a bar, (a place she has never been to and we know she never really understood what it was). Her sayings "lets go chase boys; do you think there's coffee in heaven?" Or, trying to get you to eat more food at a meal when you are already so full and asking you not once, not twice, but at least 5 times, "are you sure you don't want some more?"

Mom, we hope there is good and fresh coffee in heaven, that you don't have to wait until after 4 for a baked potato; they have the hallmark channel; there are no left turns, and that your meat is well done. We hope you have access to a paint brush and paint.

Most of all we hope you know how much we love you ,that we always had good intentions and tried earnestly to take care of you after Dad was gone. We are grateful you don't have to deal with the health challenges you faced the last few years. We felt your frustration and discouragement.

We are grateful for the service we were able to give to you in your times of need. Even though you were always trying to pay us for it. We truly hope you find the peace you longed for in this life that seemed to evade you. Hopefully, you now have the answers to all your questions about this life and what lie ahead after.

We will carry your memory with us and do our best to continue to live in a way that will make both you and Dad proud,

Mom is survived by her daughter Kim (Steve) Anderton, grandchildren Jared (Lindsey) Anderton, Katie Jensen (Dillon), son Brett (Cindy) Pugmire, Jessica (Aaron) Love. Colby (Aimee) Pugmire, daughter Karie Pugmire, and 7 great-grandchildren and 5 brothers.

She was preceded in death by her beloved sweetheart Larry, her parents, a brother and a daughter-in-law Tammy.

Mom was very adamant to us over the years that she did not want a viewing or a funeral service. She said she would haunt us if we didn't adhere to her wishes. But she didn't say anything about the obituary. So, we felt safe at least trying to honor her and her life in this very wordy obituary.

A family graveside service will be held on Thursday October 30, 2025 at the St. Charles, Idaho Cemetery. She will be interred next to Dad and other beloved family members over looking the beautiful Bear Lake valley.

If you would like to honor Karen, our mom, we suggest that you do a random act of kindness in her memory. Hug your family and tell them how much you love and appreciate them.