sharon kowalski, a high school teacher of physical education and health, lived with her partner, karen thompson (born 1947), in st. cloud, minnesota, for about four years. although kowalski's parents were not aware of the relationship at the time, the couple had exchanged rings and named one another as insurance policy beneficiaries. on november 13, 1983, kowalski suffered severe brain injuries in an automobile accident involving a drunk driver. the injuries left kowalski with permanent physical disabilities, requiring her to remain in a wheelchair, and the mental capacity of a four- to six-year-old child.