Karen Marie Beckstead Busby

Karen possessed a rare sensitivity; an ability to feel deeply, to see others with compassion and to love unconditionally with an open heart. That instinct for kindness remained with her throughout her life.

Karen was born September 07, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah to June Hansen and Lloyd Neeley Beckstead. She spent her life in Holladay and graduated from Olympus High School before entering nursing school. She learned to work hard and be totally self-sufficient at a young age, tragically losing her father early, leaving her with the responsibility of being sole provider for her mother and son Nicholas.

Karen was employed at St. Marks and Holy Cross Hospital in nursing but got involved with Coding in Medical Records, managing departments which gave her a depth of health care knowledge that few could match, but more importantly life-long treasured friends from over 300 hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda and known as “Queen of Customizations”. She built relationships with the 35+ contract engineers under her direction. Nearly all were either from or based in India. She became their protector, mentor, coach, and friend. She had a tenderness about her and an unwavering drive. That sensitivity shaped how she moved through each day. She was aware of others struggles and responded compassionately. Through her dying day, they kept in touch with her through consistent visits, dinners, lunches and phone calls in her memory care facility this past one year, being as close as family could ever have been. They truly loved her.

Karen was the fifth of six siblings. Adrienne Cundick (Russell) Salt Lake City, Michael Beckstead (Donna) Worland, WY, Earl Beckstead deceased, Mark Beckstead deceased, and Robert H. Beckstead Montana.

She lived in Holladay all her life, but she finally used her Pioneer spirit dream and moved to Montana on her own in 2013 and moved her brother Mark up with her later. Mark passed three years later prompting her to move back to Salt Lake City in 2016, returning again to Holladay where she passed peacefully on the morning of June 6th surrounded by close loving family who cared for her during her final year of life from the devasting, debilitating disease of Dementia. She begged diligently to get her mind back but did have good days of coherencies. Her vibrant personality was so electrifying when it came through the pains of the disease.

Karen was the greatest mother to her surviving son, Nicholas, and his wife Cecily. She was an incredible and hard-working person who always thought about others before herself, even right down to the end with this dreaded illness. Working many jobs, taking care of her mother and son, and becoming a mentor to so many people who loved and respected her with so much love. Working at Siemens Corp, she made friends easily and was much loved by her coworkers and remained friends with all of them until the end. Karen loved gardening, going on long drives with her mom and son, and making every moment count. She also loved dogs and took care of many of them throughout her life, and they meant the world to her.

Family would like to thank the many staff members that were at her aid, one in particular, Aurora Diaz. Karen received fantastic care from Inspiration Hospice and admirable consistent first-class care from The Ridge at Cottonwood. IHC came to remarkable aid to Karens many visits this past year. We would also thank Dr. Hugh Stoneburner for his 25+ years of medical and personal care to Karen. He was her number one on her bulletin remembrance board made for her these past months. Love and appreciation are beyond words for the care given by her nieces Emily Smith and Renee Cundick, who were her everyday caretakers and loved her deeply. They were indispensable planning entertainment, activities for Karen and organizing her personal space so she always felt at home. She will be so deeply missed.

Karen is now in peace, surrounded by love and embraced by mercy greater than anything we can comprehend. While our hearts are empty and broken, we hold fast to hope that we will all live an exemplary life that we will be together again with our loved ones as we know with certainty that she now is surrounded by her loved ones.

Friday, June 12th at Cannon Mortuary, 2460 Bengal Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, UT 6:00 to 6:45 viewing. Celebration of Life at 7:00 hearing your voluntary thoughts, stories, or memories of our loved one Karen Marie Busby, our treasured moments.

We ask as a gift to Karen that you do something kind for someone in her honor as she lived her entire life.

Internment Saturday, June 13, 2026, Whitney Cemetery, Idaho.