Our Staff

Greg Karvonen | Suzi Karvonen

Licensed Funeral Director & Owner | Funeral Assistant & Owner

 Greg and Suzi Karvonen are both graduates of the New York Mills High School. They united in marriage on August 24, 1991 in New York Mills. Greg graduated with honors in 1992 from Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana. In 1993, Greg and Suzi joined the family funeral firm and in January of 1998 purchased the family business. They are proud to able to continue what has become a family tradition.

Sam Salo

Office Manager

 Samantha “Sam” Salo, daughter of Steve and Robin Salo, graduated from New York Mills High School with the class of 2016 and moved to Fargo, North Dakota shortly after. In February of 2018, Sam returned home to New York Mills and began her employment at Karvonen Funeral Home where she is proud to continue the Karvonen tradition.

Sam is a member of the Ronald McDonald House RIDE Committee, a charity event which raises money for the Ronald McDonald House of Fargo, North Dakota. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing cards, and gardening.

Kendra Schumacher

Licensed Funeral Director

Kendra was born and raised in Morris, Minnesota. She went on to attend Minnesota State University – Moorhead in Moorhead, Minnesota graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. 

Kendra earned her Associate’s Degree in Mortuary Science online through Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. She joined the staff in Detroit Lakes in 2019 where she finished her schooling and testing to begin her internship. Kendra transitioned to the Karvonen staff in September 2021.

Kendra and her husband Dalton have two cats and a dog that comes to work with her most days. The couple reside in Wadena.

In her free time, Kendra enjoys spending time with her family and friends, knitting, crafting, reading and spending time at the lake.

Lisa Preuss

PreNeed Specialist

Lisa is the owner of Lisa Preuss Insurance Agency in New York Mills and partners with us as our Pre-need Specialist assisting families in the funeral prefunding process. She truly enjoys getting to know the families that we serve and providing the peace of mind that comes with prefunding a funeral.

Being an active part of her community is important to Lisa; currently she is a Board Member of the New York Mills Education Foundation, Relay For Life Leadership Committee Member for Otter Tail County, New York Mills Civic & Commerce Member and Perham Health Partners in Care Council Member.

Lisa and her husband, Jeff, live on Big Pine Lake with their two daughters and enjoy spending as much time on the water as possible during the summer months.

Tina Bartels

Office Secretary | Funeral Assistant

Tina has lived in New York Mills most of her life. She graduated from New York Mills High School with the class of 1993. She earned her Associate of Arts degree from M State in Fergus Falls and her Bachelor of Arts degree from State Cloud State University in English and graphic design. She has been employed as a graphic designer since her college graduation. She was most recently part of the marketing department at M State for the past sixteen years. Tina is a freelance graphic artist who loves painting, drawing, writing, photography and doing anything creative that challenges her abilities.

Tina married Eric Bartels in 1998 and they have two children, Emma and Kellen. They live in rural New York Mills where they enjoy living in the country and spending time with their family, friends, and their animals.

Tina is excited to be a part of the Karvonen team where she can help support families in need and use her talents to celebrate their loved ones. Loss is always difficult, and she believes we should care for those who have left us and comfort those left behind.

Rachel Stout

Funeral Director Student

Rachel grew up in southern Minnesota in the thoroughly Lake Wobagionian town of Kiester, Minnesota. You may remember it from a Preparation H commercial.  She graduated from Augsburg University in 2001 with a Bachelor's degree in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry and from Luther Seminary in 2006 with a Masters of Divinity.  Rachel is a former ELCA pastor, serving congregations in Moorhead, Wadena, Sebeka, Aldrich and Parkers Prairie.  She and her husband Ryan live in New York Mills with their three children Soren, Anastasia, and Brigid and two dogs Larry and Blonde.  Rachel is enrolled in mortuary school at Des Moines Area Community College realizing a lifelong dream of becoming a Funeral Director.  In her spare time, Rachel likes to read, spend time with her children, and try new beer and breweries.  

Haylee Disselbrett

Funeral Director Student

Haylee Disselbrett was born and raised in Wadena, Minnesota. She graduated from Verndale High School with the class of 2019 and is currently enrolled in college courses so she may become a licensed funeral director. 

Joani Salo

Funeral Assistant

Joan “Joani” Salo loves spending time in her kitchen where she bakes, cans, and hosts friends and family for coffee. She also likes to sew, play cards, garden, read, and hunt. During her time away from home she is a part of the Karvonen Team, serving families refreshments, snacks and meals for visitations and funerals.

Tim Lannon

Funeral Assistant

Bev Lannon

Funeral Assistant

Bev Lannon has resided in Henning for 25 years. She moved from Bertha where she taught in the Bertha-Hewitt School District. Bev is married to Tim and has two daughters. After retirement, Bev is happy to be part of the Karvonen and Belmont Funeral Home Staff. She is also an active volunteer at Lutheran Island Camp.

Marty Friedrich

Funeral Assistant

Marty Friedrich was born in Austin, MN, he moved to Henning in 1963 and graduated from Henning High School in 1972. After spending 3 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman he attended Wadena Tech and received a degree in accounting. He and his wife raised their family in Deer Creek and lived there for 34 years before retiring to West Leaf Lake between Ottertail and Henning. He retired as a Postmaster from Perham, MN after 31 years of service. The 31 years of service were in the Henning, New York Mills, Clitherall, Deer Creek, Ottertail, Frazee and Perham areas. Marty has been married to Sandy for 41 years and they have 3 children (Luke, Kate and Maggie) and 3 grandchildren. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Deer Creek, Deer Creek American Legion, deer hunters association and Knob Hill Sportsmans Club. In his spare time he likes to be at his hunting land, fish, hunt and spend time wood working and traveling.

Emma Bartels

Funeral Assistant

Emma graduated from New York Mills in 2020 where she was active in athletics and many extra-curricular activities that allowed her the opportunity to hone her public speaking and leadership abilities. Emma continued her education at M State in both Fergus Falls and Wadena where she played softball, worked on general studies, massage therapy, esthetician and nail technician certification.

Emma lives in Wadena with her dog, Halle and her cats, Zeke and Steve. She has a passion for health, fitness and general wellness. She believes personal fitness and wellbeing are an important part of life’s journey and hopes to help others find peace, wellness and self-confidence through fitness and self-care. You can often find Emma at the MAS or spending time with her family or friends. She loves weightlifting, the outdoors, and animals.

Emma is the daughter of Eric and Tina Bartels of New York Mills. She has one brother, Kellen.

Emma’s compassion, outgoing personality and ability to put people at ease makes her an excellent fit at Karvonen’s.

Donna Uselman

Funeral Assistant | Funeral Celebrant

Since joining the team, Donna has met many amazing people and made lots of new friends, walking beside them to help them through their difficult times. She is grateful to be able to be there. In Donna's free time, she enjoys being with her husband and family, especially her 7 grandkids and her cat, Ozzy. She loves being outside, mowing, gardening, and sitting in the sun. 

Linda Youngbauer

Funeral Assistant

Linda Youngbauer is a lifelong resident of Wadena. She enjoys being a “Lunch Lady”, serving luncheons in our fellowship hall following funeral and memorial services. Above all, Linda loves spending time with her family.

David Gilster

Funeral Assistant

Dave is an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Corliss, Rural Perham and serves as head usher.  He's a member of the men's club there and enjoys playing dartball.  Dave is also involved with the New York Mills Lions Club.  He's married to Karlene, and they have three children.

Sara Grabe

Funeral Assistant

Sara joined the Karvonen team as a way provide support to families in their time of need. Although a time of loss often times bring forth much grief, many families are also able to celebrate their loved one in a supported environment. 

Linda Gustafson

Funeral Assistant

Linda (Bramer) Gustafson graduated from Verndale High School in 1980. In 1986, Linda married her husband Scott, and started a family while residing in Wadena. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters. Linda loves spending time with her grandsons, family, and friends. She can also be found tending to her flowers in the summer, playing golf, and going for walks. Linda is an Elvis Presley fan and enjoys finding new memorabilia to add to her collection. She also works for the BBQ Smokehouse in Wadena. Linda is a part of the Karvonen Team, serving families refreshments, snacks and meals for funerals.  

Derek Glenna

Licensed Funeral Director

Derek has been a traveling licensed mortician throughout the state of MN and is also licensed in Wisconsin.  He and his family reside in South St. Paul, MN.

John Karvonen

Retired Licensed Funeral Director

John returned to the Karvonen Funeral Home & Cremation Services in the summer of 2018 to assist families.  After growing up in the Funeral Service business in New York Mills, John, a 3^rd Generation Licensed Funeral Director graduated From Moorhead State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and from the University of Minnesota in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science.  As a licensed funeral director since 1981, John joins the staff at Karvonen’s to provide professional service and personal care to each and every family at a time of need. As a certified cremation operator, John’s knowledge of the vast cremation options and personalized services is an asset to the communities that Karvonen’s Funeral Home and Cremation serves.

Larry Belmont | Gayle Belmont

Retired Licensed Funeral Director |Retired Funeral Assistant

Larry Bruce Belmont grew up in the family funeral home and graduated from the Henning High School in 1966. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1969 with a Degree in Mortuary Science. Larry was employed with Thompson Brother’s Funeral Home in Minneapolis until purchasing a funeral home in Thief River Falls in 1973. Larry purchased the Belmont Funeral Home from his father, Lawrence Sr. in Henning in 1986 while continuing to operate the Belmont Funeral Home in Thief River Falls. In 1999, Larry made his home in Henning, Minnesota. Larry married Gayle on July 12, 2003.

In Loving Memory ~ Rick Youngbauer

Funeral Assistant