Karen S. Wallen

Karen S. Wallen of Great Falls, MT died on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82 from a long and painful battle with cancer.

She was born on March 25, l940, in Matawan, NJ to Arthur & Natalie Sagebiel. She was raised in Interlaken, NJ and graduated in 1958 from Asbury Park High School. She went on to attend Bridgewater College in VA, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Home Economics. She started her career in retail at Lord and Taylor in NYC. She met Wendell Barnes, Jr. while in NY. They were married and had a son. They moved to Oregon and had a daughter. They divorced in 1970.

She then married Stewart B. Wallen in 1972 in California. In 1978 they moved to Las Vegas, NV where she remained until her retirement.
She had a long career in retail as a buyer and in management, including working at Liberty House in Hawaii and California, Bullocks in California and Las Vegas, and finally at Macy’s in Las Vegas from where she retired in July 2008. She then moved to Great Falls to be closer to her daughter and family. While in GF, she volunteered at Sacajawea School and at the Benefis Gift Shops for many years.

She is survived by her son, Wendell B. (Katja) Barnes, III of Dusseldorf, Germany; and daughter, Deidre B. (Don) Martinko of Great Falls, MT; six grandchildren, Jessica Wyrick, Jacqueline Martinko, Justyn Martinko, Noah Barnes, Henry Barnes and Siri Barnes; a great-grandson, Luke Wyrick; sister, Jean Nuijens of Elma, NY; one nephew; and six nieces.  She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and her older sister, Judy Keating.