Karen R. Synness, age 84, of Helena

Karen Synness, 84, died peacefully in her home, on March 22, with all four of her children, most of her grandchildren, and some of her great grandchildren, at her bedside. Which is just the way she would have wanted it.

Karen will be remembered as a loving wife, a nurturing mother, a spoiling grandmother and a spunky great grandmother with an endless supply of lip-sticked “Gramma Kisses.” She was part Tomboy, part seamstress, part supervisor, and all matriarch who loved her family.

During a 40-year hospital career at St. Peter’s, Karen earned the reputation as a masterful, caring coordinator, who performed her duties par excellence, while going above and beyond to help anyone in need. And she had fun doing it, with a constant smile on her face

And by no less an authority than her husband of 62 years, she was “One hell of a woman.”

Karen Rae Spence was born on January 17th, 1942, to Raymond and Slyvia Francis (Hastings) Spence, in Watford City, North Dakota. The seventh of eight children, she was raised with four sisters – Charlotte “Tippy,” Lillian “Sis,” Lenore and Vera; and three brothers – Sam “Butch,” Keith and Dennis.

When she was 5 years old, the family relocated to Polson, Montana, where her Dad worked at a sawmill. Among Karen’s favorite activities growing up was swimming in Flathead Lake, gardening and sewing. She also enjoyed going to the movies – the 25 cents admission price being paid for by returning 5 empty pop bottles to the grocery store.

After graduating from Polson High School in 1960, Karen ventured down to Helena, with intentions of attending beauty school. She stayed with Lenore and her husband on Birdseye Road, helping out with her sister’s kids. Karen found employment at a local insurance agency, where she met co-worker Kay Lynch.

The two women became friends and soon shared an apartment together. One night she and attended a party with Kay, her sister Carol, and Carol’s husband, Wes Synness. Also there was Wes’ handsome – albeit quiet and shy – younger brother, John Synness.

It was love at first sight. Six months later, John and Karen were married, on September 26, 1961. She was 19 years old. The union lasted 62 years, until John’s passing in 2023. The union produced four children – Prudence in 1962, Scott in 1963, Sheryl in 1966 and Stacey in 1970 – 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

They started out living in a house trailer next John’s shop at Synness Auto Wrecking on Highway 12 East. In 1978, they relocated to their newly constructed home on the nearby hilltop overlooking the salvage property.

John built a cabin at the Synness Homestead at the base of Beartooth Mountain (better known as the Sleeping Giant) in 1962, and the family has spent countless hours there – working and recreating – ever since.

Karen became an accomplished horsewoman, aboard her favorite mount “Star.” An Arabian cross bay mare, Star’s lineage ran through numerous Beartooth stock. She was a bit “hot,” but an excellent riding horse.

Karen was the first ward clerk at the original St Peter’s Hospital at 11th Avenue and Logan, in the 1960s, before the current facility on Broadway was built in 1968. She spent the next five decades as a loyal hospital employee – serving as ward clerk, Nursing Coordinator (her favorite position), with St. Peter’s Foundation and a Certified Health Unit Coordinator – retiring in 2005.

She was well-loved and much-respected in the halls of St. Peter’s Hospital. Working out of the Nursing Office, Karen mostly handled the scheduling, and passing out paychecks on payday. As the health unit coordinator, she kept the unit running smoothly with patient’s orders, admissions, discharges and orders from doctors. She was widely popular, and is fondly remembered to this day by the nursing staff.

“Karen knew her stuff and she knew how to deal with nurses,” wrote Rae Lynn Christians, who worked as a nurse with her for 14 years, until Karen’s retirement. “Most importantly, she was someone I could talk to and she made a point to (get) to know me, and my family. And she did this for all of us.

“She did not mince words. You always knew where Karen stood, and you didn’t want to disappoint her. She cared about us and our patients, and we knew she always had our back.”

Karen was known for giving everyone a hug, and for making blankets for employees and doctors with new babies. When nurses brought children in with them, she would give the kids a piece of Wrigley spearmint gum. She also kept school photos of the kids by her desk.

Among Karen’s adult interests and hobbies were gardening, sewing, crocheting, rock work and cabin time. Always a Tomboy at heart, she preferred jeans to dresses, but she also enjoyed dressing up and going dancing.

Later on, spending time and sharing photo album stories with their grandkids and great grands became a top priority. Devoted to her husband until the very end, she was John’s caregiver during his final years.

“I will always remember seeing Karen in the hallway, with her clipboard and her white coat,” Rae Lynn concluded. “She really did deserve a plaque on the wall.”

Karen was predeceased by her parents, her husband John, and her siblings Sam, Keith, Lillian, Lenore, Vera and Dennis.

She is survived by her sister Charlotte; her children Prudy (Cary) Grubb, Scott Synness, Sheryl Synness and Stacey (Jenine) Synness; and grandchildren Lindsey Grubb, Kelsey (Nick) Price, Christopher (Michael Nelson) Grubb, Sabrina Synness, Angela (Tyrel) Herzog, John Synness, Kyle (Aimee) Nelson, Kati Easterling, Kody(Annie) Nelson, Kari Nelson, McKenzie (Zachery) Portnoy and Spencer (Katie) Synness.

Also, 19 great grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Karen’s Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2 p.m., at the Helena Community Center in the East Helena Valley.

Service Schedule

Celebration of Her Life

2:00 p.m.

Saturday May 9, 2026

Helena Valley Community Center

3553 Tizer Rd.

Helena, Montana 59602

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