Elaine LaRee Karstens
Elaine LaRee Karstens
Elaine LaRee Karstens, 64, quietly left the travails and challenges of this life behind at 11:08 pm on Thursday, May 7, 2026 – stepping through the veil to the reward she so richly deserved. She passed away at the EvergreenHealth Medical Center, Kirkland, due to complications related to multiple sclerosis (MS).
Born in Boise, Idaho, to Sylvester DeLamar “Del” Low and LaRee Wilde on December 28, 1961, Elaine was the youngest of four siblings. The first twelve years of her life were spent in the family home on Windsor Drive before moving to Dallas, Texas. She attended high school at The Hockaday School in Dallas, then spent the first three years of college at the University of Utah. Elaine graduated from Southern Methodist University.
She met her husband, John, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was stationed with the US Air Force. They married on April 29th, 1989, in Albuquerque. Elaine accompanied John to his next duty station in England for the next 2 ½ years, during which time, their daughter, Jenna, was born. When John left the Service in 1992, they moved (via her parents’ Bellevue home) to Plano, Texas, where their son, Paul, was born. They left Plano in 1996 to return to Albuquerque and, over the next 29 years, Elaine made comfortable and loving homes for her family there in New Mexico, Burlington, Vermont, Albuquerque one last time, Huntingtown, Maryland, and Lancaster, California. She and John moved to Monroe, Washington, in April of 2025 to retire and be near their adult children.
Elaine battled MS for over 40 years, beating back the disease to live life on her terms as best she could. During the last couple of years, she struggled more with the mounting challenges to life and health. Despite all that came her way, Elaine refused to show anything but a positive spirit, a desire to serve Heavenly Father through his sons and daughters around her, and – not the least – a fierce devotion to her family.
Through it all, Elaine was a devoted mother to her two children, a magnificent chief operations/financial officer for the home, and a wonderful wife to John for 37 years. She was also a potent emissary of Jesus Christ through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the icing on the cake – she was a poised and beautiful composite of the following, written about her in messages after her death: “her grace and sweetness,” “grateful to have known her,” “a treasured part of my life,” “so much love and compassion and joy and wisdom packed in that tiny little body,” “rarely without a smile,” “Heaven’s gain but such earthly loss,” “a blessing in my life and will be remembered always,” “taught me so much,” “will deeply miss my dear, sweet friend,” “very rarely voiced discouragement,” and “her gratitude for every little service was genuine, heartfelt and poured out freely.”
Goodbye, my love, God has you safely home, and we are glad.
A Celebration of Elaine’s Life will be held on May 23.
In lieu of flowers, follow Elaine’s service lead and donate on her behalf to a worthy cause of your choice in whatever place you call home.
7 Responses to “Elaine LaRee Karstens”
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I have been a brother in arms with John since the 1980s. We both were assigned to RAF Upper Heyford where my wife and first met Elaine.
She had always been a stalwart supporter of John and friend to us from the beginning. It was with a heavy heart that I received the notice of Elaine’s passing. She gave a good fight to the end and do glad is is singing with the angels in the comfort of God. Free of all pain and suffering. You will be missed.
Aunt Elaine,
Thank you for the conversations and for letting me vent at random times over the past few years. You were always encouraging and supportive. I wish I had had the chance to interact with you more earlier in my life. I think maybe we might have moved as many times or more times than you guys did.
I know that Miriam will miss you dearly. My condolences to John; Jenna, Paul, and their families.
Elaine was a lovely and loving presence first in Richard’s life and, later, in Valerie’s. Our condolences to John, Jenna, Paul and their families
I met Elaine in our first year at University of Utah. My father made me go through sorority rush—I did NOT want to. He dropped me off at the first event immediately after I ran a mountain race. There I was in my sweaty tee shirt and running shorts amidst all these girls dressed and coiffed and made up perfectly. I was SO out of place and felt SO alone. No one spoke to me….until I ended up in the same house Elaine was in. She was so kind…and we became great friends. We did so much together at school and then became pen pals after I returned home to Florida. Even though we didn;t see each other again, it felt like we were lifelong pals…keeping track of each other first via letters and cards and then email. I think of her as beautiful, poised, kind, positive and loving. She gave me wonderful advice on many occasions and we shared a lot of laughs. I will never forget how she used to spray a puff of perfume in front of her and walk through it! I still do that myself to this very day. Rest now, my dear friend. You have fought the battle. You have finished your race. You are loved. You are missed. You are wonderful!
I was heartbroken and stunned to hear of Elaine’s passing. Even though life had carried us in different directions over the years, hearing this news brought back so many memories of the friendship we shared and reminded me how important she was to me.
Elaine was my very best friend during our high school years. Some of my happiest memories from that time include standing next to each other in dance class and sharing History class notes from Dr. Lambert’s class. After college, I remember our trip to Vancouver to see the 1986 Worlds Fair where we managed to see and do a lot, but stayed out of too much trouble. Then, when she married you I was so happy to see her begin that chapter of her life. Later, when Brian and I bought our first home, she helped me choose the kitchen wallpaper and arrange the living room furniture — something that may have seemed small at the time, but has remained a cherished memory for me ever since.
Although we hadn’t spoken recently except to stay in touch about the major events in our lives, I will always keep a special place for her in my heart. Some friendships never truly fade, no matter how much time passes. I regret that I won’t have another chance to reconnect with her and tell her how much her friendship meant to me.
Please know that I am thinking of all of you during this incredibly difficult time.
John, Jenna and Paul,
I’m so happy I met you all. Elaine and John were the best neighbors. I’m so glad to have been a part of your lives.
I really feel Elaine was the most positive influencer of my life. She taught me how to be a better person.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Will miss you.
Love,
Your neighbor and friend.
Barbara & Quinn
John,
What started out as a work relationship developed into much more. I don’t have many friends and I’m glad to be able to call you one of the few that I have as my friend. Even though I never personally met Elaine I felt as though I knew her as she was always one of the topics of our conversations during our luncheons. You’re probably one of the nicest persons I’ve ever met in my life and I know Elaine was a part of you being the great person that you are. You have moved on into the next chapter of your life, but I want you to know that my phone will always be on and my door will always be open for you if you ever need me.
Fanandus