Kristina Rose Polson

Kristina Rose Polson, age 35, of Duluth, Minnesota, passed away on September 19, 2025 after a year long battle with cancer. She was born on January 29, 1990, in Rome, Italy, to Natalia Khalimendik and the late Peter Khalimendik. Kristina married the love of her life, David Polson, on August 8, 2015, and shared ten beautiful years of marriage with him. She also became a proud U.S. citizen in 2017. The happiest moment of her life was when she gave birth to their baby boy, Theo, on February 29, 2020.

Kristina was a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She dedicated her professional life to a cause she cared deeply about, working as a chemist at the City of Superior, Environmental Services Division, ensuring environmental compliance and keeping Lake Superior clean.

A bright and happy soul, Kristina was known for her loving, kind, and compassionate nature, and for giving selflessly to others. She found immense joy in the simple pleasures of life and had a deep love for all of nature. Whether she was spending time at the family cabin, gardening, feeding the birds in her yard, or walking peacefully in the woods, she cherished the time she spent outdoors. Her other hobbies included playing volleyball, making artwork, doing puzzles, and playing cards. Nothing brought her more happiness than doing things to make her son Theo smile.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has offered their unwavering support and financial contributions, and is especially thankful for the friends and family who have provided kind words and shared laughter during this difficult time.

Kristina was preceded in death by her father, Peter Khalimendik, and her father-in-law, Mark Polson.

She is survived by her loving husband, David, and their son, Theo. She will also be deeply missed by her mother, Natalia Khalimendik; her mother-in-law, Kathryn Polson; her siblings and significant others, Julia Abram, Maria (Vadim) Tikhonov, David (Angelina), Sarah Holiman, Elijah, Ruth (Yaroslav) Martsenyuk, Gabriel, and Rachel (Henry Glassman); her sister-in-law, Kristine (Joel) Siler; and many other nieces, nephews, in-laws, and various relations.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, September 30th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A short visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 1st, at 10:00 AM, with the funeral service at 11:00, followed by her burial. Both visitations and the funeral service will be held at Glen Avon Presbyterian Church, 2105 Woodland Ave, Duluth, MN 55803. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Oral Cancer Foundation.