Kari Matthews

Kari Jo Matthews, 28, of Lakeville , MN , formerly of Breckenridge , MN , died April 17, 2009 at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville , MN .

The funeral will be held on Thursday, April 23, at 2:00 p.m. at Breckenridge Lutheran Church , Breckenridge , MN , with Pastor Mark Manning officiating.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 22, from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Breckenridge Lutheran Church , Breckenridge , MN . There will also be visitation for one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery , Breckenridge , MN .

Pallbearers will be Nathan Bratlie, Kyle Bratlie, Darrin Steffens, Nick Mauer, Jake Mauer, Michael Mauer, Andy Rangen, Brent Rangen, Clemett Matthews

Kari Jo was born January 25, 1981 at St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge , MN during the Super Bowl. She graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1999 and attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for three years studying retail purchasing.



On February 4, 2003 she was married to Patrick Damon Matthews at “The Little White Wedding Chapel” in Las Vegas . She gave birth to McKensie Rae in 2003 and Patrick Damon Jr. in 2004.

Kari worked at the Dairy Queen in Breckenridge during her high school years, and later at Lane Bryant at the Mall of America, Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel and Jackpot Junction. She was currently employed with Quantrix Valuation in Bloomington , MN .

The most wonderful thing in the world to Kari was her two children. She was a wonderful mother. Family and friends enjoyed her talented artistic side that consisted of drawing, painting, pottery, sewing and baking. She also loved to scrapbook, read and do word puzzles.

She is survived by: Her husband: Patrick Matthews, Lakeville , MN ; Her daughter: McKensie Rae Matthews; Her son: Patrick Damon Matthews Jr.; Her mother: Debbie (David) Steffens, Breckenridge , MN ; Her father: Eldon (Kathy) Anderson , St. Cloud , MN ; Her brothers: Anthony Steffens, Breckenridge , MN ; Blake Anderson and Grant Anderson, both of St. Cloud, MN; Her sisters: Sarah (Jim) Sadowski, Burnsville, MN and Christina Anderson, St. Cloud, MN; Her long time best friend: Kristi (Bogenreif) O’Keefe and her family, Moorhead, MN; Her maternal grandparents: Oscar and Julie Bratlie, Lisbon, ND; Joan Bratlie, Lisbon, ND; Her step-grandparents: Allen and Bergit Perry, Fargo, ND; and Arlen and Rosie Steffens, Wahpeton, ND; Her mother and father-in-law: Alvita and Anthony Chuck, Atlanta, GA; Her brother-in-law: Clemett (Desiree) Matthews, Chippewa Falls, WI; Her sister-in-law: Montseratt Matthews, Miami, FL.

She was preceded in death by: Her great-grandparents: Olive and George Jankowski; Her paternal grandparents: Alex and Viola Anderson; and Her uncle: Randy Bratlie