Karma Swain

Karma Lee Poulson Swain-beloved daughter of Leo and Virginia Poulson, sister of Lynn and Charlotte, eternal companion and sweetheart of Keith Swain, special educator of hundreds, best friend to all, and our precious mother-peacefully passed from this life on Tuesday morning, March 10, 2026.

Karma was born February 23, 1940, in Provo, Utah. Though the world was heavy with the suffering of World War II, she always described her childhood in nearby Orem as joyful and idyllic-everything a 1940s and '50s childhood should be. She grew up in the historic home her grandfather, Otto Poulson, built on Orem's State Street in 1912, a large and lively house that became something of a landmark in the young town. It contained four small apartments, some of the first indoor plumbing in Orem, and eventually one of the first indoor swimming pools in the city. The Poulson home was always full of activity, laughter, and friends, and Karma often joked that it became "the party house" of the neighborhood.

Next door stood the newly built SCERA Theater, where she and her friends regularly went after school to watch the latest movie serials. Her childhood was filled with roller skating, strawberry picking, neighborhood adventures, and endless time with friends and cousins-but above all else she loved softball. Softball was her life. She graduated from the newly built Orem High School in 1958 and attended Brigham Young University and Utah State University.

On June 29, 1961, she married the love of her life, Keith Swain. Their early married years took them to the West Coast as Keith pursued a career and graduate education. They began their family in Logan, Utah, then moved to Crescent City, CA, Corvallis, OR, and Puyallup, WA before eventually returning to Utah, settling first in Orem and later in American Fork where their lively household grew to include seven children.

Building a home and raising their children became Mom and Dad's greatest joy. While Dad worked long hours in the garden after work and spent weekends laying brick, Mom managed the bustling household and taught her children the values of work, learning, and service. Under her guidance they practiced the art of weeding, baking, bottling fruit, sewing, painting, repairing, scrubbing, vacuuming, studying, and helping neighbors. In the fall, while Dad took the boys hunting, Mom stayed home praying for their safety. Looking back, it might sound like we grew up in the 1800s-and sometimes we thought so too.

Even while raising seven children, Karma devoted herself to education and service, which included returning to BYU to finish her degree in special education and graduate with her oldest son. She taught for 20 years as a special educator in various settings, including elementary school, high school, and the young mother's high school. Most of her years were spent at Forbes Elementary. She saw divinity and brilliance in her students and became their tireless advocate, ensuring opportunities, respect, and confidence they weren't previously afforded. As a literacy specialist, she taught them to read. More importantly and mostly through her example, she taught them to love and serve and connect. Recognized as one of the top special educators in the state, Karma trained other teachers how to do the same. Her kindness and persistence blessed countless young students and their families, and propelled special education out of the shadows and into the light, literally moving her programs out of satellite trailers and into the buildings, and from mere breadcrumbs to a seat at the table. Many of her students have sought her out as adults, thanking her for the life she gave them.

The core of her life was defined by her deep testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and devoted service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served faithfully in many callings, teaching cub scouts how to tie knots and young women to pitch tents, she led women in learning and serving and with the same energy she gave her students at school. She taught so many by her example to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Later in life she and Keith continued their lifelong pattern of service together, including serving three missions. They loved serving in the addiction recovery mission, at Deseret Industries, and as temple workers at the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Mom had a remarkable gift for friendship. She made people feel welcome wherever she went, and her home was often filled with neighbors, friends, and family. People naturally gathered around her warmth, humor, and steady faith. Her life is a quiet testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and of the joy that comes from building a home centered on love, service, and devotion to family.

Karma is survived by her seven children and their spouses: Monte (Shannon) Swain, Scott (Leann) Swain, Kalene (Bryan) Mathews, Trent (Janette) Swain, JaNae (Darin) Hakes, Eric (Stacie) Swain, and Megan (Aaron) Coxson. She was welcomed into eternity by her beloved husband Keith and by their son, Jefferson Keith Swain. Keith and Karma are the proud grandparents of 37 wonderful grandchildren and 26 (approaching 29) miraculous great-grandchildren.

The family expresses their deepest gratitude to Anderson and Sons Mortuary for their kindness in honoring both our parents with dignity, and to Canyon Home Care & Hospice, especially Nicole Small, whose compassion and Christlike care brought comfort to Mom and Dad in their final days.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the American Fork East Stake Center (825 East 500 North, American Fork, Utah). A viewing will be held Friday evening, March 13, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the same location. A second viewing will precede the funeral on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the American Fork Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a local Latter-day Saint ward humanitarian fund.

Click on the link below to watch Karma's funeral service:

https://youtube.com/live/ztx-Txhqrgc?feature=share