Karen Martea Bergersen (née Andreasdatter) married Carl Bergersen at age 25 in Norway and arrived in New Zealand on-board the "Celaeno" with their young son Oscar B. The family were allotted a section on the Karere Scandinavian Block. Carl worked as a wheelwright, having been trained in Norway as a cabinet maker. In 1886, Carl founded C A Bergersen - Engineer, Gunsmith, Locksmith and Machinist. He was also an inventor and filed several patents, including one for a radical type of sash window. Carl died in Palmerston North in 1922, there is no available information of Karen's death. Their children were: Oscar (b. 1870), Alexander Marthinius (b. 1871), Hildas Emmuanuel (b. 1872), Olga Lenora Constantina (b. 1875-1876), Hildas Laurence Constance (b. 1878) and Ragna Doretta Amalie (b. 1881).

Karen was one of approximately 523 Palmerston North women who signed the Suffrage petition, submitted to Parliament in 1893.