Karen Lynn Mertins

Karen Lynn Mertins
Karen left us peacefully in her sleep after a courageous two and a half year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family when she passed June 18, 2011.
Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, Karen was lovingly raised in the New England area until she married and moved to Washington state in 1978. In 2008, Karen and her husband Mike moved to Montana as a career opportunity there coinciding with a long term plan to relocate in Montana. Karen took a job as a bank manager at Farmers State Bank in Ravalli County. Both of us are deeply appreciative of the caring support we received from the employees and owners of Farmers State Bank.
Karen made a successful career in the banking field which lasted over 30 years. She accomplished many personal and corporate goals, and made many friends in and out of the banking world. Many of those friends remained close even through her move from New Hampshire to Washington and then Montana.
Several years ago she and her husband bought property in Hamilton with the intent to move there and build their retirement dream home. The job offer expedited their plans and they were able to build and live in their dream home for two good years before Karen's passing.
Karen lived life to the fullest possible extent, especially outdoors. For several years she was a white water river guide in Washington state. Other outdoor activities she loved were mountain climbing, bicycling, hiking, downhill and cross country skiing and water skiing. Karen loved animals, sometimes, one might think, more than people. Many people often said that if the died, they wanted to come back as one of Karen's beloved cats. She also enjoyed horse back riding as a youth and later as an adult.
Karen is survived by her husband Michael, both of her parents, Floyd and Marilyn Lamson, her brother, Alan Lamson and his wife Janet of Manchester, CT. Karen also has two nephews, Mark and Todd Lamson, two great nephews and great niece. She is also survived by three step children, Rachel, Jared and Joesph Mertins of Everett, WA. Also left behind are many dear, close friends made in her life time.
Karen would like to be remembered as being full of life and energy, thus her request to have a celebration of life, and not of her passing. Arrangements will be made for this celebration of life sometime in the next several weeks. A notice will be placed in the paper and friends will be notified by e-mail.

We request that you not send flowers, but if you feel the need, a donation in Karen's name to the American Cancer Society would be sincerely appreciated. Karen will be dearly missed by all.