| Karen Olsen Beck | |
| Office: | Member of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica |
| Term Start: | 1986 |
| Term End: | 1990 |
| Office2: | Ambassador of Costa Rica to Israel |
| Term Start2: | 1982 |
| Term End2: | 1984 |
| President2: | Luis Alberto Monge |
| Office3: | First Lady of Costa Rica |
| Term Label3: | In role |
| Term Start3: | May 8, 1970 |
| Term End3: | May 8, 1974 |
| Successor3: | Marjorie Elliott Sypher |
| President3: | José Figueres Ferrer |
| Office4: | First Lady of Costa Rica |
| Term Label4: | In role |
| Term Start4: | February 7, 1954 |
| Term End4: | May 8, 1958 |
| Predecessor4: | Henrietta Boggs Vacant (1949–1954) |
| President4: | José Figueres Ferrer |
| Birth Name: | Rita Karen Olsen |
| Birth Date: | 31 January 1933 |
| Birth Place: | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Party: | PLN |
| Spouse: | José Figueres Ferrer (1954–1990; his death) |
| Children: | 4, including José María and Christiana |
| Profession: | Diplomat Politician Social worker |
| Alma Mater: | Columbia University University of Copenhagen University of Mary Washington |
Rita Karen Olsen Beck (born January 31, 1933 Copenhagen, Denmark)[1] is a Danish American-Costa Rican diplomat, politician and social worker. She has served as the First Lady of Costa Rica during the governments of her husband José Figueres Ferrer 1954-1958 and 1970–1974, a Legislative Assemblywoman and the Ambassador of Costa Rica to Israel.[2]
Olsen was born Rita Karen Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her parents, Walter Olsen and Karen Beck Olsen, had emigrated to the United States from Denmark and became naturalized U.S. citizens. She lived in Yorktown Heights, New York.
From an early age she exhibited great interest in social issues. While a student at Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington) she was involved in several movements promoting solidarity with, and defense of, the needy.[3] After graduating from Mary Washington College, Olsen enrolled at the University of Copenhagen to study social sciences. She then received a Master of Arts in sociology from Columbia University in New York City.
She married the then-President of Costa Rica, José Figueres Ferrer, on February 7, 1954, becoming the country's First Lady.[4] Olsen was 23 years old at the time of the wedding, while Figueres was 47.[4] The ceremony was performed at the home of Figueres' brother, Antonio Figueres, by Archbishop Ruben Odio Herrera.[4] President Figueres had divorced his first wife, former First Lady Henrietta Boggs, on January 1, 1954.[4]
With Figueres she had four children, including José María, also president of Costa Rica 1994 - 1998; and Christiana Figueres, a specialist in environment and climate change, who is the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.