Karen Joy Hall (McKenzie)

May 16, 1955 – July 10, 2025

As published in the August 4, 2025 World-Spectator

Karen passed away peacefully at the Southeast Integrated Care Centre on July 10, 2025 at the age of 70, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
Karen was born May 16 1955 in Moosomin, Sask. She was the first born child of Elva and Angus McKenize, followed by her sister Myrna a year later and brother Jack two years later.

Karen grew up on the McKenzie family farm west of Moosomin. She graduated from McNaughton high school in 1973.

She met Vern who worked for their neighbour and they were married June 1, 1974, celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary this year.

September 6, 1974 they welcomed their son Donald Glen. Vern was driving truck, hauling cattle and on many trips Karen and Don would accompany him across Canada and into the States.

On July 16, 1977 their daughter Denise Marie was born.

Vern started working at Prairie Livestock in 1979 and is still currently employed there. Over the years Karen got to meet a lot of people in the cattle industry and tons of friendships started. Karen enjoyed curling and looked forward to the women’s bonspiel. Later in life she took comfort watching it on TV often saying, “Looking forward to watching the curling.” She also enjoyed watching football with Vern, and actually liking the same team.

They raised their family in town until they purchased a farm a mile out of town in 1990 and Bear their dog joined the family soon after, followed by Blue in 1996.

Their farm consisted of cattle and horses. Karen enjoyed having the cattle around, often referring to them as pets. Lots of time was spent with their friends going to horse events over the years.

They moved to the current farm in the Kelso area in 2003 and remained there until this year.

Karen was a very hard worker from waitressing at the BA to her 20-plus years at the co-op grocery store. She was a successful business owner, having a video rental store and then buying Tino’s restaurant in 1995. The staff and customers still talk about the fun times they all had, and not to mention the great food! The move to Kelso took her to working at the Deerview Lodge in Wawota where she retired when she turned 65.

Karen loved and was so proud of her grandchildren. She was so excited when her first grandchild Tristin was born in Australia in 1999 to Don and was thankful they moved to Canada for a bit. Tristin’s visits were always special to her. She was proud of his career in mining in Australia. Kade was welcomed to the family when Denise married Dale, followed by Jaxon and Scotlyn. She attended Kade’s grad in Oxbow and was proud of his long position on the Rigs. Karen was so proud to see Jaxon graduate high school and attend the University of Manitoba. Karen loved to watch Scotlyn Highland dance. She attended three Canadian Nationals in Regina, Halifax, and Kamloops, not to mention numerous dance competitions.

Karen loved to travel and loved the ocean, traveling to destinations like Aruba, Mexico, Columbia, St. Barts, and St. Vincent to name a few. She absolutely loved Woodlands Resort in Devils Lake and being on the boat that was her “happy place“ trying to go every summer for the past 13 years. Her most recent trip was an Alaskan cruise with Vern the summer of 2024 as well as lots of family trips with the grandchildren.

Karen was pre-deceased by her parents Elva and Angus McKenzie, mother and father-in-law Alma and Clayton Hall, brother-in-law Clayton Hall, brother-in-law Donald Hall, nephew Travis Hall, and niece Lisa Von Krzensinski.
Karen will be sadly missed by her loving husband Vernon Hall, son Donald Hall (Ginette Langlois) and grandson Tristin Hall, her daughter Denise Chadney (Dale) grandchildren Kade, Jaxon, Scotlyn. Her sister Myrna Light (Cliff Dobson) and brother Jack McKenzie. Sister-in-law Nita Dickin and brother-in-law Ronald Hall (Linda) as well as numerous nieces and nephews
A beautiful Celebration of Life was held on July 18, 2025.

Memorial tributes can be made to the Moosomin & District Healthcare Foundation CT Scanner fund.

Karen is loved by so many people, and is going to be dearly missed.

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