Karen Hays

Karen Ingrid Magnuson Hays
April 23,1953 to February 16, 2020

Karen,66, died at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center in Helena, MT after a year long fight with cancer. Her smile and wit were with her until the end.

Karen was born in Tallahassee, Florida to Sarah (Sykes) and Walter Magnuson. She was the second daughter of their six children. While the family moved around some during her childhood, Karen remembered growing up in Southern California fondly. Many summers of her youth, there was time spent in Miles City, MT with her paternal grandparents, uncles and aunts, and lots of cousins and during that time she developed a deep love of Montana..

In 1971, Karen graduated high school in La Jolla, CA and started college at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN following in the footsteps of her parents who had met there many years prior. She pursued her studies there for a couple years before joining the US Army. She served her country proudly and spent time stationed in Germany. She finished her bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University.

Karen married Harvey ‘Ed’ Edward Hays Jr. in 1979. Their marriage produced three children (Sean, Megan, and Sarah). When Ed’s job brought the opportunity for a transfer, Karen guided the family to her beloved Montana. They divorced in 1997.

Karen’s children were her greatest pride and joy. Though life wasn’t always easy, her fierce love, brave spirit, kind heart, quiet faith, and lots of laughter created a home where her children could feel safe and loved. Through their various school projects and extracurricular activities she supported and challenged them to do their best. Her constant support went with them as they became adults and lived their lives both near and far. She taught them to be generous and love hard and to always let mom know they arrived at their destinations safely. She also taught them to always remember that every person they interacted with was also a beloved child of God. Her love, prayers, and sacrifices shaped them into the people they are today.

As her children no longer needed as much attention and care, Karen served several tax seasons with Jackson Hewitt helping others to get their taxes done. She then took a job working with WestMont and poured her heart into serving many clients in their group homes. In 2015 she married her friend Heidi Jacobson and they enjoyed spending free time traveling and finding new places to hike.

Karen’s first grandchild was born in late 2018 and watching him grow brought her great joy. She enjoyed all the time she had with him. He was her reason to fight when she received her cancer diagnosis.

Karen’s faith in God was always an important part of her life though she lived it out in her actions more than she talked about it. Her faith carried her through both the good and hard times in her life. She was a member of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church at the time of her death. Karen also enjoyed crafts and was quite skilled in knitting, crocheting, and sewing. She loved to bake, read, and decorate for various holidays.

She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her and her memory will live on through them.

Karen is survived by her children Sean Hays of Helena, Megan(Andy) Graves of Cedar Falls, IA, and Sarah Hays of Helena; her partner Heidi Jacobson of Helena; her sister Christine Magnuson of Hudson, NH; her brothers Erik (Susan Magnuson) of Cardiff, CA, and Karl (Gail) Magnuson of Decorah, IA; her grandson Walter Graves; her aunt Patricia ‘Pat’ Magnuson of Miles City; and numerous nieces, nephews, a great niece, and cousins.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Sarah Magnuson, and her sisters Sigrid Magnuson Kirby and Kjersti Magnuson.

Memorials may be made to Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church 3580 N. Benton Ave, Helena, MT 59602 and St. Olaf College 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057.

Visitation will be Friday February 21 from 6-7:30 pm at Twitchell Funeral Service, 2 W. Main St, East Helena, MT 59602 Funeral service will be Saturday February 22 at 11 am at New Life Lutheran Church 5980 N. Montana Ave, Helena, MT 59602, with reception to follow. Interment will be private, at a later date.

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