Karen Allred

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Karen Sue Pehrson Allred, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She slipped peacefully from mortality on Saturday, July 9th, surrounded by her family.

Karen Sue Pehrson Allred was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 31, 1944, to Paul Little and Ruth Elisa Ellefsen Pehrson.  She was the fifth of eight children. Karen spent her childhood in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake City, where her father, with whom she shared a special bond, was a prominent community leader. Karen was always a fighter. When she was a young child, she survived polio and had to learn to walk again. Later she survived a train wreck in the desert. Clearly, she had a mission to fulfill on this earth. Karen was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all her life and was devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She enjoyed studying the scriptures and learning from classes and books those truths that brought her real joy and peace. She loved and stood firmly for what was right and was uncompromising in her beliefs.

Karen graduated from Olympus High School in 1962 and attended Brigham Young University. She married the love of her life and eternal companion, Robert Graham Allred, on June 11, 1964, in the Salt Lake Temple. While raising their family, Bob and Karen kept each other laughing and learning together in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Karen never wanted to be away from Bob’s side for any length of time. They loved each other deeply.

She focused her life and testimony on Jesus Christ and on her family – namely her husband of 58 years, her 7 children, 29 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was actively involved in her church callings, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP), and her neighborhood book club. Karen loved her rose garden, playing cards and going to lunch with her sisters, connecting with friends, reading, and all things pink.

Karen is survived by her husband, Bob, children Deborah (Tarvel) Tervort, Robert (Gennifer) Allred, Christina (Paul) Lingenbrink, Richard (Cara) Allred, Susan (Sanjay) Gogate, Stephen (Erin) Allred, her siblings, Janet Brown, Paul Pehrson, David Pehrson, and Pat Ricks. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Richard “Ricky” Pehrson, and Nels Pehrson, sister Ruth Marlene Hill and son David Earl Allred.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at 11:00 am in the Alpine North Stake Center (1125 East Alpine Blvd, Alpine), with a viewing held on Tuesday, July 19th, from 6-8 pm and Wednesday from 9:30 - 10:40am at the same stake center. A dedication of the grave will be held at the Alpine Cemetery following the service. Please share a memory on Karen's tribute wall.