Margaret "Marge" Karsky

Margaret “Marge” Karsky, age 90, of Clinton, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, with family members at her side at Essentia Health Grace Home in Graceville, MN.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville, MN. Visitation will be held at the church, Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service and Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the Mass on Thursday. Fr. Brian Oestreich will celebrate the Mass and interment will be at Clinton City Cemetery in Clinton, MN.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Margaret Mildred (Havelka) Karsky was born on October 17, 1932, at St. Joseph Hospital in Dickinson, ND, to John and Mary (Ridle) Havelka. She grew up in Dickinson and graduated high school with the Class of 1950. Marge attended Dickinson State College for one year. She taught country school in North Dakota from 1951 to 1956, two of her students included a younger sister and younger brother.

On June 6, 1956, Marge was united in marriage with Otto Karsky. Together, they were blessed with eight children. They resided in New Hradec, ND, until 1961, when they moved to the farm outside of Clinton, MN, where Marge resided until only a few months before her passing.

From 1999 to 2016, Marge was a foster grandparent and was known as “Grandma Marge” to many Headstart and Pre-school children. She was active in the 4-H program as a leader and the Minnesota Dairy Association. Marge looked forward to working at the ADA malt stand at the Big Stone County Fair.  Marge enjoyed volunteering at the Grace home and the Clinton nursing home. Marge’s faith was important to her as she was active in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville: serving on the CCW, and as a CCD instructor. She was also a member of the Catholic War Veteran’s Auxiliary of New Hradec, ND.

In 1980, Marge and Otto won Big Stone County Soil and Water Conservation District’s “Beautiful Farmstead” award. Marge enjoyed gardening, reading, raising fowl, especially Pheasants and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Left to cherish Marge’s memory are her children: Audrey (Steve) Prokosch of Redwood Falls, MN; Alan (Debra) Karsky of Clinton, MN; Adrian Karsky (significant other, Jamie) of Oak Park, MN; Armon (Laurie) Karsky of Wheaton, MN; Annette (Gary) Kleindl of Morris, MN; Arleen (Brian) Athey of Ortonville, MN; Arthur (Nina) Karsky of Nisswa, MN; and Arnold (Becky) Karsky of Dickinson, ND; 31 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild on the way; sisters: Mary Ann (Ernie) Fitterer, and Tillie Havelka; brother, Otto (JoAnne) Havelka; sister-in-law, Tillie Volesky; brother-in-law, Edward (Gina) Karsky; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto Karsky, in 2004; her parents, John and Mary Havelka; parents-in-law, Frank and Emma Karsky; brothers: Joe, George, Laudie, Robert, David; and sister, Lillian.