Oct. 5, 1936 - Oct. 3, 2026
Date of Service: Oct. 10, 2026
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Service Program
BURLEY – Karma Rae Rasband Lambert, a devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, lifelong educator, and woman of enduring faith, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2026, just short of her 90th birthday.
Born on October 5, 1936, in Rexburg, Idaho, Karma was the daughter of Floyd Earl Rasband and Mabel Jeanette Brown Rasband. Her life was a beautiful testament to resilience and faith, characterized by a quiet determination that helped her navigate familial heartache, economic hardships, and various health challenges. Raised during the lean years of the Great Depression and World War II, Karma grew up in a single-parent home in rural Southeastern Idaho after her father left the family in search of employment. Alongside her brother, Berkley Rasband, she watched her mother work tirelessly as a secondary and elementary school teacher to provide a secure environment where both children could have the opportunity to learn and grow. This upbringing instilled in Karma a deep sense of responsibility and a lifelong reverence for hard work, education, and family unity.
When Karma was 14 years old, she experienced a profound trial of loss and survival that deeply impacted her life. During a church girls' camp hike in Darby Canyon, she was struck by lightning in a tragic sudden storm. Although she survived the strike (thanks to the valiant efforts of many) her young women’s adult leader and four close friends lost their lives. While the heartache of that day and a persistent sense of survivor’s guilt remained with her, Karma channeled her experience into a deeper appreciation for life, friendship, and the hope of the Gospel. She met subsequent personal trials, including significant health challenges and the disappointment and hardships of a broken marriage, with a toughness that belied her demeanor.
Karma’s love of learning was a cornerstone of her identity. She graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1954 and earned her bachelor’s degree in history and teaching certification from Brigham Young University in 1958. She took continuing education courses throughout her professional career as an educator, earning enough college credit hours to satisfy multiple advanced degrees. A voracious reader from the time she was three years old, she routinely read a book a day well into the later stages of her life. She shared this passion by reading aloud to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, passing down a rich legacy of storytelling and imagination. Karma also spent decades sharing her intellect as a full-time and substitute teacher across Southern California, Eastern Idaho, Maryland, and Utah, teaching everything from high school to kindergarten.
As a young woman and later as a mother, Karma was rarely still. Exceptionally creative and artistic, she found great joy in pottery, sewing, and painting, even creating treasured portraits of each of her older children. Over the years, her sewing machine produced countless beautiful dresses and elaborate costumes for her family. Her papier-mâché Santa Claus gifts became legendary in her neighborhood in Sandy, Utah, and her handmade Christmas ornaments proudly graced trees at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center.
Karma was a gifted public speaker and an insightful Gospel Doctrine teacher. Her faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was an unshakeable anchor of her existence. She gave a lifetime of devoted service in many capacities for both her church and civic communities, including as Primary teacher, Primary President, Relief Society teacher, and PTA President. Her lessons and talks were always filled with clear testimony, deep scriptural insight, and genuine love for her classes. Above all, her family was her greatest joy, and she poured her heart into her roles as a mother and grandmother.
Though naturally reserved, Karma possessed a gentle warmth, an easy laugh, and a wry sense of humor that drew people to her, allowing her to make wonderful, lasting friends everywhere she went. Over the past 20 years, she was a cherished resident of Burley, Idaho, where she relished getting together with her friends from her Spencer Circle neighborhood and spending time with family.
Karma was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Mabel; and her two daughters-in-law, Magen Morse and Teletha Lambert. Her legacy of reliable love, bright intellect, and faithful devotion lives on in her five children, Kristin Lambert Gonzalez, Richard Lambert (Magen), Suzanne Kloepfer (John), Leslie Lambert Lyons (Earl), and Jonathan Lambert (Jenna); as well as her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her brother, Berkley Rasband; extended family, and a community of lifelong friends.
The family expresses their deepest gratitude to all the caregivers, devoted friends, and church leaders who so beautifully embraced, comforted, and served Karma during the final stages of her life.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 10, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Burley West Stake Center, located at 2420 Parke Avenue, with Bishop Brian Muir officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery.
Family friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, October 9, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and Saturday, one hour prior the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program at https://give.churchofjesuschrist.org/campaigns/81328/donations/new.
A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/ioEwxOknH2k.
