Karen J. Salo

Karen Jayne Salo, age 66, passed away on Wednesday, April 4th, at the Peace Hospice House in Great Falls, Montana. She was with her daughter & went peacefully in her sleep. She was born in Helena, Montana to Stanley & Mary Salo. She was the oldest of two children. She married Randall Boumans of Valier in 1975 & they had one daughter together. They later divorced.

Beginning at an early age, Karen had a deep love for animals. She would often rescue baby birds fallen from their nests during storms, take in stray cats & dogs, & was the founder of Prairie Oasis animal shelter in Shelby, Montana. She loved reading, gardening, & quilting, & was a fantastic cook & baker. She was outspoken, opinionated, independent, & if you were her friend, you were her friend for life. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for those she loved. She worked as the Toole County sanitarian for many years & retired in 2013.

Karen was diagnosed with AML, an aggressive form of leukemia, in 2014. She fought fiercely & bravely & stayed incredibly strong. As many others can attest to, no one was as tough & tenacious as she was.

Karen is survived by her brother, Brandt & his wife Cathy; her nephew Andrew & his family; her aunt Josephine; as well as her only daughter, Amanda, & her husband Robert. She had four grandchildren, Tucker & Hailey Anderson, & Riann & Charlotte Brown. She loved being their Nana & was always so proud of her grandkids. She loved sharing their accomplishments.

Karen chose to not have a funeral, as she wouldn’t want everyone to make a big fuss over her. Instead, we will have a small gathering at the Alibi Lounge in Shelby, Montana on Friday, April 13th beginning at 6 pm. Please come & raise a glass, share your stories, & celebrate her incredible life.