Karna Jean Thorson (McFadden)

Karna Jean Thorson McFadden, 85, of McCall, Idaho formerly of Weiser,  died of natural causes at her home on Aug. 9, 2023.

She was born in Boise, Idaho to Chet and Junia Thorson on July 1, 1938.  

She graduated from Weiser High School and continued her education at California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, Calif.  

After getting her family well started, Karna returned to school and became a registered nurse.  She pursued her career as a nurse for 30 plus years.

As a child, Karna grew up on her folk’s ranch in the Weiser area. She loved horses and was always ready for a long cattle drive just at the mention of it. Horses and 4-H offered her many opportunities to develop showmanship and meet many people from near and far.

As a nurse, she truly felt chosen by God, when she was called to join a medical mission in Nepal. She felt she had the experience of a lifetime, where she could help with the medical needs of others and the people so appreciated just being a part of the care with a touch of love and kindness. She found that even a smile would wipe away their tears.

Recently, Karna moved to Weiser for a short time, where she met new and old friends of the Weiser area.  She was a part of the local Christian Church.

In recent years, Karna suffered with loss of hearing, but felt comfort in knowing that her sister Nancy had been greatly assisted with the cochlear implant after she had a total hearing loss early in life. With far less assistance, Karna found the problem was not too big to be solved.

Karna had a special love for people, and her motto was that nothing was so bad that it couldn’t be made better, and with that and a smile, the best medicine was already given.

Karna was like her sister, a devoted mother and taught her two sons the value of hard work. She never met a stranger, as taught by her family.

She is survived by her husband Lewis McFadden of McCall, her son Rick Lewis and wife Cindy, of Reno, Nev. and their son, Joe E. Lewis and wife Alyssa, of Reno. Two great-grandsons Cole and Harrison Lewis. Karna’s second son, Randy Lewis lives in Lewiston, Idaho. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Chet Thorson and Junia Jones, her stepfather, Eddie Jones, her sister, Nancy Dickerson, and her brothers, Freeland and Fred Thorson.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery, under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home.  

Memorial contributions of money or food (canned or dry packaged) can be made in Karna’s memory to Love INC. 

From Weiser Signal-American – August 16, 2023