Karen Elizabeth Black was born July 28, 1955 in Schnectady, NY to Robert James Black and Ardelle Virginia (Folsland) Black. She was an extremely alert baby, turning and staring wide-eyed when her father spoke. The family moved to San Jose, CA when Karen was a toddler and later to Simi before returning to the Bay Area. Karen had a beautiful collection of Madame Alexander dolls of which she was very proud. Karen was an avid swimmer as a youth, even making AAAU swim times in breast stroke for her age group as a young teen. She was also a talented singer taking private voice lessons and participating in several choirs and musicals in high school.

Karen began her career as a "candy striper" (hospital volunteer) while in high school and took some vocational education coursework to achieve status as a nurse's aide before graduating from Los Gatos High School. At West Valley Junior College in Saratoga she first studied music but later continued in her nursing track, becoming a licensed vocational nurse after further coursework at a community college in Turlock where she was living and working. Karen later completed the equivalent of a BSRN at DeAnza Community College in Cupertino. Karen spent most of her career working at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center,  primarily with infants in the nursery and eventually with mother-child units and in labor and delivery support.

Karen married Walter Baine Erickson in Saratoga on June 22, 1978. Karen and Walt welcomed a baby girl, Sandra Lorraine Erickson, on May 9, 1984. Sadly, Sandra had a metabolic defect that was eventually lethal, and she passed away in June 1986. Karen and Walt divorced in 1990.

Karen married her best friend, William Kendall (Ken) Sosa, in September 1999 at Karen's home in Almaden, California. The couple enjoyed travelling, watching movies and eating out together. She and Ken attended a Seventh Day Adventist Church for a number of years. Karen was always an artist working mainly in fabric arts. She knitted, crocheted, did cross-stitches and macrame, sewed, quilted and even made jewelry. Her siblings, nephews and nieces were always appreciative of her special talents as she frequently showered them with creative homemade goods.

Karen was a kind, thoughtful person of deep faith. Karen passed away on January 28, 2025 at the hospital where she had worked for many years after a brief but intense illness.

Survivors include her husband Ken Sosa, her brother Robert Black, her sisters Lauren (Louis) Hesler, and Deborah (Bradley) Huss, five nieces and nephews Carlton Hesler, Trent Hesler, Kirby Hesler, Nolan Hesler and Carolyn Huss as well as four first cousins Terrill Folsland, Bradley Folsland, Steven Folsland and David Folsland.

Karen was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, other cousins and her daughter, Sandra.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Oldham, SD.  Eidsness Funeral Home of Brookings is handling the arrangements.