05/21/2026
Recently MSPN lost our beloved Karla Yoder (Ramstad) who worked with us for over 35 years. She influenced many decisions, her lively approach keeping us motivated in good times and bad.
Godspeed Twisted Sister🙏
Note: Karla spent her last years in Gulf Port Florida
Karla’s daughter has written a beautiful obituary:
I wrote 90% of my Mother's Obituary on Mother's Day. Then I set it aside, too sad to continue and feeling guilty it wasn't "perfect." Last night she came to me with the permission to leave it as is, to be done, it was good enough ("don't spend so much money on all these words" I heard her say) but she was very clear to include the new last line she gave me to write..
Thanks, Mommy, I love you forever. Karla Yoder
Karla Elizabeth Yoder (Ramstad) passed away at 9:22 AM on March 19th 2026, 18-days after her 74th birthday, in Hospice at Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. After suffering a catastrophic stroke 9-days prior, we knew that Karlita would never again be able to crack a well-timed joke, take a long drag of a smoke, or lift her cocktail to a cackling cheers, and that it was her time to leave us and let her “boys” take her into their sweet embrace in heaven. Karla is survived by her devoted daughter, Marly Ramstad (fiancé, James O’Connor), her loving brothers, Joel Mellenthin (Kathy) and Matthew Mellenthin (Marilyn), and dozens of loving nieces, nephews, and their children. She is preceded in death by the loves of her life, her son, JJ Ramstad (17), her husband, CJ Ramstad (60), as well as her second husband, Randy Yoder (65), her parents, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ and Arthur Mellenthin, and her dogs, Monte & Razcal.
Anyone who ever knew Karla knew that she was a force – a force of magical, mystical light – you never forgot her for the way she made you feel- special. She could make everyone laugh, cry, and delight in the beauty of the world around her. Karla lived a hard life, but despite tragedy upon tragedy, she always emerged resilient, armed with her ironic quick wit and other-worldly wisdom. She fired back from every death and setback with an unshakable positivity, a compliment and a joke, ready to sing karaoke, “pole dance” to live music, and laugh across the bar with her local fan club. Karla was one-of-a-kind, a National Treasure, a Joan Rivers icon with her stash of one-liners and her endearing profanity. Always in her signature dresses and statement earrings, cruising Gulfport in her white Dodge Magnum, down to her favorite watering hole for “lunch” and a couple (or a few?) Bacardi Iced Teas, you could see her (and often hear her) coming a mile away, and though she may have left us here on earth, we are sure if you pay attention to the signs, her magic spirit from heaven will visit you- perhaps as a bird.
Karla will be deeply missed by everyone she touched. Celebrate her life with friends and family on May 31st, 2026 from 1:00-4:00 at Storm Runners Tavern- we will share stories and get drunk. Food will be served, drinks are on you. In lieu of flowers, please donate to her legacy fund at
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17hAyeNMcX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
In times like these, we don't know what to do to help those that survive … Marly Ramstad needs your support for Honoring Karla with the JJ Ramstad Scholarship
