Relationship to conference: Wife of retired elder, Rev. Clare W. Karsten.

Date of death: September 22, 2015, at age 88

Arrangements: A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, at Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church (1523 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105). A luncheon will follow the service.

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

Martha Karsten is survived by her husband Clare; children, Paul (Sharon) and Janene (John) Heider; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Blaine.

Cards can be sent to Clare Karsten, C/O White Pine Assisted Living, 6352 Central Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Children's Home Society (1605 Eustis St., St. Paul, MN 55108).

An obituary will run in the Sunday Star Tribune and the Sunday Pioneer Press.