Women in Business 2015: Karen Robinson began involvement in family business as a teen

Just as she is an invaluable "jewel" of the Kimball community, lifetime resident Karen Robinson has worked with jewels most of her 80 years of life.

Karen is the third generation of her family to work and operate Larsen's Jewelry Store. She began working for her parents part-time while still in high school in 1951. She graduated from Kimball High School in 1953, attended college, and married James Robinson.

In 1958, Karen and Jim took over Larsen's Jewelry Store for Karen's parents and became the third family generation to run the business. Karen fondly describes her partnership with her late husband, Jim, as the best at home and in business together.

Karen has enjoyed being in business, not only as a wife, but as a mother. She said that her children, Greg and Carla, grew up in Larsen's and they had accommodations in the back room of the store from the time they were babies. Karen enjoyed combining her career with family, and has always known this lifestyle. She stated that she never felt any resentment from the community for doing so.

Being in this family business all of her life, Karen said that she has seen a lot of variations over the years with the rise and fall of oil production, revenues, as well as the over all economic changes in every aspect of our community. This almost 90-year old business has witnessed a lot of ups and downs and has remained one of the oldest businesses in Kimball and Kimball County.