Karen Kay Martinson, 74, of Sioux City, IA passed away on Friday, April 6, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City, IA with Rev. Paul Andell officiating. Burial will be in the Maskell Cemetery in Maskell, NE. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M., with the family present at 6:00 P.M. and a prayer service at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, April 9, 2018 at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE.

Karen was born on September 1, 1943 in rural Hornick, IA, the daughter of John and Elsie (Eichhorn) Larrew. She graduated from East High School in 1961. Karen married Lonny Martinson in 1961 and remained by his side for 56 years. They were blessed with four boys. Their married life started in South Sioux City, then they moved to rural Ponca. In 1976 they began farming between Laurel and Newcastle. Karen worked for five years at the nursing home in Laurel before they returned to the Morningside area in Sioux City, where she worked for Mercy Medical Center until she retired.

She was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church where she was proud to be a member of the church choir. She also enjoyed taking painting classes at the Sioux City Senior Center, was an excellent seamstress, knitter and crocheter. She was involved in all her grandchildren's events, enjoyed traveling and camping with her family, and had a great passion for shopping with her family.

Survivors include her husband, Lonny Martinson of Sioux City, IA; sons, Randy, Dennis and Scott Martinson all of Newcastle, NE and Daren (Jalynn) Martinson of Sergeant Bluff, IA; 13 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; and 1 great-granddaughter on the way; a sister, Sandra (Richard) McKeever of Sioux City, IA; brother, Duane (Delores) Larrew of Mesa, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Elsie Larrew; an infant sister, Delores; father and mother-in-law, Harold and Burnis Martinson and their infant daughter, Delva; and brothers-in-law, Lloyd and Larry and his wife, Annie Martinson.