Karen Egestad was born in Råsted, Central Denmark Region, Denmark, on 14 September 1908. Her parents were Søren Stenz (1872–1957) and Vilhelmine Botilla Faurschou (1883–1911). She had two siblings: Agnes Faurschou Andersen (born 1907) and Johanne Faurschou Stenz (1910–1911). Her mother passed away in November 1911 at the age of 28. Her father later remarried and had more children. She recalled that during her youth, they would rise at four in the morning and work until nine at night. Her day began with milking cows, followed by washing clothes, cooking, and helping with other chores alongside the other children. As a young woman, Karen abstained from alcohol entirely, considering it a bad habit. Even later in life, she disapproved of the way young people partied and drank.
Karen married Arne Egestad (1906–1991) on 24 October 1935, and together they had six children. She was also a member of a gymnastics team in her younger years. Karen and her husband ran an installation business selling electronics, though she never developed much enthusiasm for technology. She only agreed to have a TV because her husband wanted one, preferring instead to read the newspaper. Karen spent most of her life in Hadsten. The only times she traveled abroad were visits to Sweden and Norway.
As of her 110th birthday in 2018, only one of her six children was still living: her 80-year-old daughter. On her birthday celebration, she was visited by the Mayor of Favrskov Municipality, Nils Borring.
Karen Egestad passed away in Hadsten, Central Denmark Region, on 16 May 2019, at the age of 110 years, 244 days.
At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest living person in Denmark, after Karla Lindholm Jensen.
Egestad’s age was verified by Stefan Maglov, and was validated by the ESO on 23 January 2020.
* Karen Faurschou Egestad (Stenz) – Geni
* “Karen fylder 110 år: Har holdt sig fra alkohol og drenge” – TV2 ØSTJYLLAND, 14 September 2018
* “Karen bliver 110 år gammel: Her er opskriften” – Newsbreak, 14 September 2018
* “Danmarks næstældste bor i Østjylland” – Jyllands-Posten, 15 September 2018