Karen Breeze Bateman

Karen loved being a true redhead. Her beautiful red hair had a way of quietly drawing attention wherever she went, and she delighted in the little bit of distinction that came with it. It even helped her find her lifelong best friend, a fellow redhead who was easy to spot in a crowd.

Karen liked to point out one more advantage of being a redhead: she never went gray. Her gorgeous color simply softened with the years, remaining unmistakably Karen to the very end.

Karen Breeze Bateman passed away peacefully at her home in Lehi, Utah, on August 11, 2026, at the age of 86.

Karen was born on November 21, 1939, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Verne and Mable Rolfe Breeze. She was the oldest of three children. She grew up in Utah and graduated from Cyprus High School in Magna in 1958, where she was a cheerleader.

After high school, Karen attended Brigham Young University. While home for the summer, she took summer classes at the University of Utah. It was there, in a geology class, that she met Neldon Bateman. That chance meeting would change the course of her life. The two fell in love, married, and began a life together that would eventually take them and their growing family around the world.

Karen and Neldon were blessed with six children. Their life together took their family to many places, including Phoenix, Arizona; the San Francisco Bay Area; London, England; São Paulo, Brazil; and Dallas, Texas. Of all the places she lived, Dallas became home. Karen spent approximately 43 years—nearly half of her life—in the Dallas area. In 2016, she returned to Utah, settling in Lehi so she could be closer to her family.

Karen was a devoted wife and mother as well as a remarkably hard worker. While living in Dallas, she worked at the regional corporate offices of JCPenney, beginning as a secretary. Her dedication and abilities eventually led to her promotion to a position as a buyer of children’s clothing after JCPenney relocated its corporate headquarters to the Dallas area.

Central to Karen’s life was her faith in Jesus Christ. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent countless hours serving others throughout her life. Among her many Church callings, she served as an early-morning seminary teacher—even while working full time—as well as a Relief Society president, stake Relief Society president, Young Women president, and in the Primary.

More important than the callings she held, however, was the way Karen lived her faith every day. She and Neldon created a loving, Christ-centered home where the gospel of Jesus Christ was taught and lived. Family Home Evening was held, family prayers were offered, and scriptures were read together. She taught her children that faith was not reserved for Sundays; it was part of everyday family life.

Karen had a remarkable ability to be happy and grateful. She appreciated what she had and found reasons to be thankful throughout her life. That gratitude remained even through one of the greatest sorrows a mother can experience—the loss of her son Jared. Through both joyful and difficult seasons of life, her faith in Jesus Christ and her gratitude for her family remained at the center of who she was.

Karen loved making her home a warm and beautiful place for her family. She especially loved decorating for the changing seasons and holidays. Fall was a favorite, with its rich colors, but Christmas held a particularly special place in her heart. Over the years, Karen collected more than 100 nativity scenes, many acquired during the years she lived and traveled throughout the world. At Christmastime, those nativities filled her home and reflected both her love of the season and, more importantly, her love for the Savior whose birth they represented.

She also loved her roses and took great pleasure in tending to her rose bushes. Whether it was flowers outside, seasonal decorations inside, or a home filled with family, Karen had a gift for making the places around her feel welcoming.

Karen expressed her love for her family through the things she did for them. Birthdays meant a homemade birthday cake from Mom or Nana. She made cakes for countless family celebrations over the years and even made the wedding cakes for each of her daughters’ weddings. These acts of service—often requiring hours of work—were simply part of the way Karen showed her love.

Above all, Karen’s greatest legacy is her family. She was the mother of six children, the grandmother of 34 grandchildren, and the great-grandmother of 40 great-grandchildren. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was lovingly known as Nana. The family that began with Karen and Neldon’s chance meeting in a geology class grew into generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who were blessed by Nana’s love, example, faith, and devotion.

Karen also knew how to enjoy the simple things in life. She was a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan and had a special love for Blue Bell ice cream—two things that became unmistakably part of who she was to those who knew and loved her.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Verne and Mable Breeze; her beloved husband, Neldon Bateman; her son, Jared Bateman; and her brother, Michael Breeze.

She is survived by her children, Scott Bateman (Krista), Leisa Parsons (Lee), Lori Howell (Scott), Rebecca Angerhofer (Paul), and Bennair Bateman (Krista); her sister, Sheila Ransdell (Jim); her sister-in-law, Kathy Breeze, wife of her late brother Michael; and her 34 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.

Karen’s family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers who lovingly attended to her during the final years of her life. We are especially grateful to Leanne Christensen and Marianne Sivert.

A viewing will be held Friday, August 21, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Valley View Funeral Home, 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah 84120.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Spring Creek 1st Ward Chapel, 651 East 1630 South, Lehi, Utah 84043. A viewing will be held at the church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. immediately preceding the funeral.