Karen Teresa Dumont Bowers passed away on July 19, 2012 in a car accident near Garrison. She was born in Deer Lodge on June 12, 1941, the second child of Ruth Souter and Francis A. Dumont, Sr.
Karen attended St. Mary’s Academy and graduated from Powell County High School in 1959, at which time she moved to Helena. She was a legal secretary for many years and then a secretary for the District Court until her retirement in 2006. Karen also served as Lewis & Clark County Public Administrator from 1975 to 1991.
Karen was married on January 27, 1962 to Jeffrey Hull of Helena. They had three children – Marci, Melanie, and Daniel and later divorced.
After several years as a single mother, Karen met Edgar Bowers, a native of Culbertson. They were married on September 15, 1979.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Ruth Dumont.
She is survived by her husband, Edgar; her children Marci (Jim) Jaman and their son Austin of Green Lane, Pennsylvania; Melanie (Matt) Marsh and their daughters Katie and Jenna of Billings; and Daniel (Stacy) Hull and their sons Rylan and Tanner of Bremerton, Washington. Karen is also survived by sisters Megan (Jim) Thompson and Janet Cox of Deer Lodge and her brother Francis (Susan) Dumont, Jr. of Salt Lake City, Utah as well as many special nieces and nephews and their families.
Karen enjoyed traveling, hiking, camping, volunteering, pinochle, history, riding the tour train and her “Deer Lodge family” with whom she spent many happy times.
Donations may be made to the Rialto Theater in Deer Lodge, Humane Society, or Fr. Hazelton “Hazey Days” in Helena.
A Vigil Service will be held at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N Montana Ave., on Tuesday, July 24th at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial is set for 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 25th at the Cathedral of St. Helena with a reception to follow the Mass in the Brondel Center of the Cathedral. Burial will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 26th. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Karen, please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com.
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Andrea & Bob Beauchaine says
So sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Karen well, but she was always smiling and friendly when I saw her. Charish your memories of her. Andrea & Bob Beauchaine
Angie Sparks says
Karen was a wonderful lady and a joy to work with. I have learned a thing or two from Karen and she will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. God Bless
Bonnie Miles says
Sending you my love
Carolyn K. Pelletier says
To the Bowers Family, I was deeply sadden to read of Karen’s passing. I got to know Karen many years ago when I was a member of the Montana Legal Secretaries Association. Karen was always so kind, caring, and funny. I know she will be missed by many. Please know that others are thinking of you at this difficult time. I know you have many fond memories to help you through. My very deepest sympathy.
Carolynn Bright says
So sorry to hear about Karen’s passing. I visited with her regularly for many years at the courthouse when I was the IR reporter covering that beat. She always had a kind word and was genuinely interested in what was going on in my life and those of others. She will be missed. Hold tight to your memories.
Carolynn Bright
Don(nie) Ferguson says
My condolences to my cousins Marci, Melanie and Danny as well as the rest of the family. I have wonderful memories of Aunt Karen and her unconditional love for all of us. Its been many, many years but I will always treasure the memories of our family trips to Helena which always included visits with Aunt Karen, Marci, Melanie and Danny.
Dorothy McCarter says
To Karen’s family,
I am so saddened by Karen’s death. She was a very special person who lit up the hearts of all who knew her. She will be very much missed. My deepest sympathies to you all.
Edith Dunn says
Marci and family I am so very sorry for your loss. Please now that my thoughts and prays are with you all. May god bless you and keep his arms around you all in your time of need.
Judi Allen says
Dear Marci, Melanie, Dan and Family,
I am so sorry to hear about your mom. She was such a fun person and always a joy to be around. I saw her a year or so ago and she caught me up on all of you and your kids. She was a very proud grandma!
Your families are in my thoughts and prayers,
Judi Allen
Karen and Tom Marsh says
May Karen rest in peace. Please know that Karen and her family are in our thoughts and prayers. With love – Karen and Tom Marsh Family
Kelli Rockley (nee Ferguson) and family says
I am so saddened to hear of Karen’s death and I send my condolences to Marci, Melanie, and Danny and their families, and to Karen’s husband Ed. I have such fond memories of summer vacations spent with my aunt and cousins in Helena and my thoughts and prayers are with all of her loved ones.
Lisa Sanden says
I am so very sorry to learn of Karen’s passing. For five years she volunteered for the National Park Service’s Trails & Rails program. She enjoyed talking to every passenger on the train and was so full of knowledge about the history of Montana. We will all miss her laugh and joy of living. My thoughts are with her family and all friends who will miss her dearly.
MR&MRS Frank Demko says
we offer our prayers..forall of her survirous.our thougths with all of you at this time.
Pat & sheri crouch says
Dan ,sis and my favorite nephews
It hurts my heart to see you having to endure the pain of Losing Karen .
She is blessed to have been loved so deeply
best mom , grandma , friend
Ruth McLaughlin says
Mike and I only met Karen one year ago on a trip to Culbertson to visit schoolmate Ed. I was so struck by her gentleness, her intelligence, and her true sympathetic nature. She and Ed were wonderful hosts. I’m so sorry to think she is gone from Ed’s and her family’s lives.
Sarah Braden says
I want to offer my sincerest sympathy to Karen’s family. Karen was an amazing woman. I still remember when I first met her when I moved to Helena in 1995 and began my legal career. Karen took me under her wing and would take me for evening walks around Helena, pointing out all of the history that is to be found in our city. She was a wealth of knowledge about everying in Helena. She will be missed dearly but I know that she is with the Lord now.
Sheila Harris says
I knew Karen thru Community Concert and Live at the Civic as a fellow worker. She was so warm and friendly and easy to talk to. My heart goes out to the family.
Shirley Reese says
I am so very sorry to learn of Karen’s passing. I am one of the retired Courthouse ladies who was blessed to have had lunch with Karen the afternoon of her passing, just about 3 hours before her accident. I hope it will comfort you to know that she had a wonderful time sharing her future plans with us that afternoon. She was such a beautiful woman, inside and out and so filled with a zest for living. It was an honor and a pleasure to have worked with her and to have known her as a friend. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
The McKay Family says
We are so sorry to hear of your loss and offer our condolences.
Tom Hirst says
So very sorry for your loss.
Tonna and Joe Strasko says
Karen, I have left your last e-mail to me on my phone – you feel closer this way. I will try and get your picture on Facebook – from our dessert lunch a few weeks ago.
Ed and family, Karen will be missed so very much. Please let the retired folks from the courthouse know what we can do to help you all.
God bless you all especially in this incredibly hard time!
Tonna and Joe Strasko
Vicki Hentz says
I did not know Karen well, but we saw each other frequently at daily Mass, and she once generously gave a tour of the courthouse to my Cub Scout den, for which I thanked her with a yellow rose bush; she was always happy to tell me each spring it had bloomed again. She will be missed by many at Church and elsewhere.
Viki Garman says
I just recently returned to town and learned of Karen’s passing. I am stunned and send my prayers and thoughts to the family. Karen was a very special person. I have known her since 1981 and she always had a smile and a pleasant comment. Your loss is great, but may happy memories and God’s grace bring you comfort.
Viki Garman
Wendy Johnson says
Karen was a fellow volunteer with the Trails & Rails program and was truly a person we enjoyed spending time with and traveling with. She will be dearly missed. My heartfelt sympathy and prayers to all her family.