Relationship to conference: Retired elder

Date of death: March 7, 2017, at age 92

Arrangements: A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18 at Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church (1523 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105) with a luncheon immediately following. During the service, all clergy will be invited to the front of the sanctuary to sing the first three verses of "For All the Saints," with the congregation joining in for the remaining verses. Clergy need not robe.

Appointment information: Rev. Karsten was ordained as a deacon in 1950 and as an elder in 1951. He served Minnesota churches in St. Paul, Blooming Prairie, Lansing, Harmony, Granger, Winona, Homer, Austin, and Minneapolis. He retired in 1989.

Rev. Karsten is survived by his children, Paul (Sharon) Karsten and Janene (John) Heider; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, and his son, Blaine.

Memorials are preferred to Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church (1523 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105).

Cards of condolence can be sent to Paul Karsten at 10777 Tamarack Circle, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

An obituary will appear in Sunday's Star Tribune and Pioneer Press.