Obituary of Karen Jeanne Butler

Karen Jeanne Butler

(June 13, 1956 - December 10, 2019)

Karen Jeanne Butler (Cole) was born on June 13, 1956. She lived life to the fullest and passed away surrounded by family on the evening of December 10th, 2019.

Karen lived a life of loving care for family, supporting kindness for everyone, and the kind of straight forward practicality that could only come from rural Alberta. Born and raised in the New Norway/Duhamel area, Karen grew up in a large family of eleven kids. Into adulthood Karen attended Mount Royal College for Early Childhood Development and worked various jobs in the New Norway area. She married the love of her life, Bruce, in 1978 after a couple years of courtship and proceeded to take on the work of the Butler family ranch and become a mother to three children: Kelly, Randy, and Jodi. 
Bruce and Karen spent 40+ years together as friends and partners. Karen’s seemingly endless love grew during this time to include her many nieces and nephews, all school friends/4-H members and juniors, and most especially her grandkids. Her joy in life was often from family, gardening, or crocheting. She was a committed volunteer to many organizations alongside Bruce, such as 4-H, the Northern Alberta Hereford Club, and anything from Brownies to school sports where she could give a hand and support others. Karen particularly loved calving season and took great pride in her picturesque yard.
Karen will be remembered fondly for her kindness and love, her strength and her simple wants from life. She wanted little, gave without hesitation, and wanted nothing more than for everyone around her to live in happiness. She was practical to the end and was determined to never cause a fuss. 

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Bruce; children Kelly (Mike) Miller of Lafayette, Georgia, Randy (Jenn) of Sylvan Lake, and Jodi Butler (Dylan Ames) of Calgary; three grandchildren; and siblings Jim Cole of Red Deer, Janet (Doug) Hastie of Camrose, Shirley Cole of Calgary, Rick Cole of New Norway, David (Linda) Cole of Killam, Ted (Liz) Cole of New Norway, Colin (Annette) Cole of Rosalind, Grant (Patty) Cole of Killam, and Marilyn (Walter) Johnson of Camrose. Karen was predeceased by her parents, Floyd and Sarah Cole, brother Allan Cole and mother-in-law Doris Butler. 
 

She will be dearly missed by her husband, children, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and many friends.
  

A Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 17, 2019 from the CityLights Church (4920 48 Street Camrose) with Rev. MaryAnn Pastuck. Inurnment has taken place in the Highland Park Cemetery.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Karen's memory may be made to Northern Alberta Hereford Club Memorial Scholarship, or to Keith Gilmore Foundation, or to the charity of one's choice.