Karen Mary Vasilieff

Karen Mary ‘Miki’ Vasilieff passed away unexpectedly at age 79, at her home in Riverside, Washington on November 10, 2022. Her passing has left a hole in the hearts of those left behind. Karen was a World War II Baby Boomer – born February 9th , 1943, in Seattle, Washington to Walter and Josephine Vasilieff. Her father was serving in the Navy on a tiny island in the South Pacific. He saw her once as a small infant, but then not again until she was 2 years old! Her siblings Andy, Christine, and Ted followed after dad returned home – and then little sister Sonya was born in 1961 when Karen was 18 years old and graduating from Glacier High School. She went on to get a teaching degree from the University of Washington. She was always very creative and artistic and wanted to teach art to middle school children. But teaching art in the face of a controlling administration left her disillusioned (some things don’t change do they?!) and rather than compromise her principles, she left teaching. She then moved up to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort near Mt. Rainier and lived and worked there for several years. Those were happy times, and many of the extended family have wonderful memories of spending time skiing and hiking with her there. She always had a great love for the outdoors and the mountain air and seemed most at home away from the big city! Her son Mark was born in 1970 forming an inseparable team from then to the very end. She worked hard to provide for Mark as a single mom. Hard times and traumatic events prompted Karen to take on a new adventure, this time a big move to Anchorage Alaska for a fresh start and a better place for her to raise Mark. It turned out to be a very good decision for them both. Karen learned how to program computers on her own and it turns out she excelled at it! At first, she had her own business, but then went to work for the State of Alaska in the budding field of IT. She traveled all over Alaska fixing computers and setting up servers! She made lots of lifetime friends and she and Mark built a thriving life there. After Mark grew up and graduated from high school, Karen moved back to Washington State and bought a 100+ year old homestead outside of Riverside, in the Tunk Valley. Her brother Andy also had a place nearby and this little house in the woods was a dream home for Karen. With its beautiful views and quiet solitude, this place was an outward expression of Karen’s inner self. Lots of adventures — hiking, snowmobiling, riding ATV’s, fishing…as well just sitting on the back porch with a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise over the hills. If you have been to her house, you know that it reflected who Karen was. Cozy, warm, full of things she loved. She was a wonderful cook and was always making something tasty, with a pot of hot coffee ready on the counter. During this time Karen worked for FEMA, continuing her IT career. She really loved traveling all over the US to help FEMA set up control centers after a natural disaster. It was satisfying to participate in helping others in difficult times. She got to see and do some amazing things during those years. But after some health issues of her own she retired. In the last few years Karen spent most of her time at her little house in the woods. During the snowy northeastern Washington winters, she stayed with Mark at his home in Yelm. She was just readying to come over the mountains to stay with Mark when she got a foot of snow at home. She posted beautiful pictures of the snow on Facebook, and her road was impassable, so she was going to be stuck there until the roads were better. Not an unusual occurrence in her neck of the woods. It seems that it was God’s plan that she was there, in the place she loved the most, when she left us. This is exactly how she would have written this final chapter. Amidst her things, an Eastern Washington bluebird sky day, and the cold, crisp air a late autumn snow brings with it. It's hard to sum up someone’s life in a few paragraphs, but if you were her friend, or part of her family – you know how much more to her there was. Her laugh, and joy for life were infectious. She found the beauty in small things. She loved animals and had many dogs and cats in her lifetime. Her dog Dozer and cat Spooky miss her so much but will have a great life with Mark who inherited that same love of animals from his mom. She had a deep and abiding faith in God, and she would tell us all to not be sad, because she has reunited with loved ones who have gone before and has met her Lord and Savior Jesus face to face. Karen is survived by her loving son Mark. Her siblings Christine (Bjorne) Hansen, Ted Vasilieff, and Sonya Vasilieff. Niece, Andrea Vasilieff and her daughters Natasha and Olivia, Nephew Christopher (Alison) Vasilieff and his sons Garret and Cody. There are also numerous cousins who she loved and touched deeply. She is preceded in death by her parents Walter & Josephine Vasilieff, her brother Andy, and his wife Kathy. Please join us celebrating her life on Friday, December 2nd , 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at River Valley Funeral & Cremation 2547 Elmway, Okanogan, Washington, 98840. Reception following. She will be laid to rest at the Riverside Cemetery at her request.

Karen Mary Vasilieff

February 9, 1943 - November 10, 2022