Winter Carnival's first Klondike Kate, Carol Carney, dies at 85

Kathy Berdan, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·1 min read

May 24—Carol Carney, the St. Paul Winter Carnival's first Klondike Kate, died May 22 after a short nursing home stay.

When Carney was interviewed for an article that ran in the Pioneer Press on Jan. 25, she talked about her time as a Klondike Kate, the Winter Carnival's mistress of "fun, frivolity and good fellowship." She sang, too.

Carney told the Pioneer Press that she competed for the sash "because I love Winter Carnival."

The Kates celebrated 50 years at the 2021 Winter Carnival.

Carney's daughter Lori Bestler said she was admitted to a nursing home on May 7.

There will be a celebration of life on Tuesday, May 25, at Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom, with a 4-7 p.m. viewing and a 7-8 p.m. service.

Here's our report from Jan. 25, 2021:

50 years of Klondike Kate: '71 winner Carol Carney is still feisty, friendly and ready to sing.