Karen Diane (Bell) Karas, 56, passed away early Thursday morning, Aug. 31, 2006, in her home due to a long battle with diabetes.

She was born March 16, 1950, to the late George and Wilma (King) Bell in Austin. Karen was baptized in the Church of Christ as a youth and attended Austin High School.

She married Garold Jernberg and later divorced. Of this union is a daughter, Teresa Jernberg, of Northwood, Iowa, and her fiance, Steven Butler, and stepson, Clayton. Karen wed Thomas Walton, of Eveleth, Minn., and later divorced. Of that union are: Dianna and her husband Ryan Butzke, of Hoyt Lakes, Aaron Walton and daughter Ava Rose, of Eveleth and Isaac Walton of Albert Lea.

Karen and Al Karas were married on July 21, 1989, in Alden and later moved to Belleville, Ark., and lived on top of her beloved Chickalah Mountain. Al continues to be a truck driver and maintains their country home and Karen’s pet dogs, Molly and Buster.

Her only surviving brother is Kenneth Bell and wife Yvonne, who live in

Austin; his children: Elaine Erickson and her son Thomas, of Wells and Matthew Bell, of Holmen, Wis.

Karen left behind many good friends and neighbors; her family members listed above; uncles: Roger Bell, of Huron, S.D., Melvin King, of Austin, Marreld King, of Charles City, Iowa, and Loren Murphy, of Lyle; and many cousins.

A loving tribute was given to friend and employee Karen Karas of the local Darnadelle, Ark., Wal-Mart when a large number of her co-associates attended her graveside services on Saturday, Sept. 2. The Rev. Bert Herzog commented that he has not seen that many Wal-Mart employees except at the biggest in-store sales event.

Mountain Springs Cemetery, on top of Chickalah Mountain, is Karen’s final resting place, within walking distance of her home. After the hymn, &8220;The Old Rugged Cross,&8221; one line of Scripture was shared by the pastor, Hebrews 9:27: &8220;And just as it is appointed unto men to die once and after this comes the judgment.&8221; It was a reminder to those attending that we are all headed to the same place and to live the best we are able to do to our last breath.