Karen Kaye (Kessler) Hall was born August 13, 1948, in Kansas City, MO, to Homer J. Kessler and Laura (Rogers) Kessler of Lexington. Karen spent her childhood in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School. She attended Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, MO, majoring in music. Throughout high school, Karen was an accomplished vocalist often singing for weddings, funerals, church functions, and other events.
On September 21, 1968, at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington, Karen married Charles Bracy Hall, then a Lieutenant in the United States Army and a graduate of Wentworth Military Academy. Not long after their marriage, Charles began a tour in South Vietnam and Karen returned to Lexington where she lived in an apartment and worked as a telephone operator. After Vietnam, Karen and Charles were assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.
After military service, the Halls moved to the St. Louis area, where Charles worked in the security department at Six Flags over Mid-America and Karen worked in an employment office in Belleville, IL. It was at this point that the Halls united with Pacific Baptist Church where they became active in youth and music. Later, Karen came on staff at the church as music director, a position she held until Charles surrendered to the Gospel Ministry and the couple moved to Union, MO, where Charles served as Pastor of the Leslie Baptist Church. Karen and Charles served six churches during their 40 years of active service in Missouri, South Dakota, and Oregon. Charles served as Pastor and Karen served in many and varied areas of ministry, wherever she was needed.
Karen, 70, of Piedmont, SD, died June 29, 2019, at her residence.
Karen is survived by Charles of their home in Piedmont, SD, her husband of 50+ years; her daughter, Leslie Anne Hall-Leipold, and her husband, John, also of the home in Piedmont: her son, Stephen Patrick, and his wife, Angie, of Longview, WA; grandchildren, Mikayla Elizabeth Schmitz and Alexandra Kaye Schmitz of Piedmont, Tarina Claire Nye, Lecea Grace Hall, Devin Patrick Hall, and Brynlea Josephine Hall, all of Longview WA; many nieces, nephews, loved ones, and many, many friends.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Gene Payne.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2019, at Calvary Baptist Church, 4601 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57701.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, July 8, 2019 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

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