She was a special person,even tho' she came from the other side of the "track",so to speak. You know,the wealthy & not so wealthy. She was the all American girl. The kind that any young guy,wouldn't be afraid to take home & meet his parents. She was smart,popular,good looking & had a great personality.What more could you ask for! She was the type of girl,that all the guys had a crush on. Barb & her family,went to our church[Bethlehem],she was in my Sunday school class,we got confirmed together. There was one summer,when a bunch of us kids[I think from Sunday school],were invited out to their cottage on Ottertail or Pickeral Lake. She didn't care what type of background you came from,you were invited.It seems funny how we remember the GOOD times we had,more than the bad.And anyone who grew up in the Fergus area,had many good times to remember.Anyway.She came from a wonderful/caring family,she was a good classmate,& yes,she is missed by ALL those who knew her. RIP Barb.
Amen to all of those kind words Dan. Yes we all were confirmed together and her Dad Walter was our Sunday School teacher also. Her siblings were all a reflection of her wonderful parents for sure. I miss her very much also.
We are only 7 days away from our 50th class reunion, the last for many of us. You all have friends that you never had a chance to write a memorial for, well here is your chance as there is still nothing under people I know had numerous friends like Mary Gail, Flip Fleming, Daryl nelson, John Lunde, just to name a few. They all deserve some goodbyes from their old friends, come on you guys, get off your butts and write a few words. Thank you guys who wrote about Lois Luther, good goin'.
Barbara was a best friend, a friend for all seasons. Barb made good times better and hard times easier.
We first connected back in 7th grade when her family moved to Lakeview Drive, a short walk from where I lived on CO Rd 1. It was the beginning of a life-long friendship. Having no siblings, I loved spending time at her house. With Barb’s four siblings (Mark, Cathy, Carolyn & Joel) it was always a flurry of activity, practical jokes and laughter. Dad Walter took part in the shenanigans and Mom Agnes just kept her cool and quiet composure.
After high school, we said our goodbyes as Barb headed off to St Olaf and I was off to Gustavus, promising to stay in touch. Our dreams of college days, away from home, changed. A year later, we were both back in Fergus for different reasons. Barb came back to help care for her ailing mother.
This unanticipated, somewhat disappointing time brought us back together, a beginnings of a deeper friendship. We shared it all: college roommates at MSU, weddings, babies, raising kids, graduations, grandkids, illnesses and death, laughter and tears, joys and disappointments.
In later years, as couples we took our first vacation to Puerto Vallarta. We all loved PV. We continued that tradition for 16 years until Barb’s death. In that year of 2011, we were waiting for their arrival, but Barb’s medical condition took a turn for the worst 5 days prior to the PV reunion.
Thank you Barb, for always showing me the good side in everyone, being an eternal optimist, for your candor , your uncritical acceptance and your deep devotion to friends and family. I yearn for one more day on the beach sharing a good book, our “soul talks” and the Speedo Alerts.
Weren't the potlucks at her house fun with her siblings all around! Remember that big table they had? I miss Barb too, especially since she had the compassion to come to my dad's funeral along with Barb Deering and Jan Trosvig. That is something I will never forget along with Barb's laugh. She was a good, dear friend.
Barb and I met in Sunday school at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. We actually sang a duet in church when we were three years old. We went to Clair Ann Shover nursery school , so we spent a lot of time together. Going over to her house on Summit Ave to play was so much fun, such a BIG house. Fast forward to 1967, having her as a roommate along with Jan Trosvig in Moorhead. Lots of fun times to remember with Barb. Miss you Barb.
Dan Jensen
She was a special person,even tho' she came from the other side of the "track",so to speak. You know,the wealthy & not so wealthy. She was the all American girl. The kind that any young guy,wouldn't be afraid to take home & meet his parents. She was smart,popular,good looking & had a great personality.What more could you ask for! She was the type of girl,that all the guys had a crush on. Barb & her family,went to our church[Bethlehem],she was in my Sunday school class,we got confirmed together. There was one summer,when a bunch of us kids[I think from Sunday school],were invited out to their cottage on Ottertail or Pickeral Lake. She didn't care what type of background you came from,you were invited.It seems funny how we remember the GOOD times we had,more than the bad.And anyone who grew up in the Fergus area,had many good times to remember.Anyway.She came from a wonderful/caring family,she was a good classmate,& yes,she is missed by ALL those who knew her. RIP Barb.
John Erickson
Amen to all of those kind words Dan. Yes we all were confirmed together and her Dad Walter was our Sunday School teacher also. Her siblings were all a reflection of her wonderful parents for sure. I miss her very much also.
We are only 7 days away from our 50th class reunion, the last for many of us. You all have friends that you never had a chance to write a memorial for, well here is your chance as there is still nothing under people I know had numerous friends like Mary Gail, Flip Fleming, Daryl nelson, John Lunde, just to name a few. They all deserve some goodbyes from their old friends, come on you guys, get off your butts and write a few words. Thank you guys who wrote about Lois Luther, good goin'.
Janice Anderson (Trosvig)
Barbara was a best friend, a friend for all seasons. Barb made good times better and hard times easier.
We first connected back in 7th grade when her family moved to Lakeview Drive, a short walk from where I lived on CO Rd 1. It was the beginning of a life-long friendship. Having no siblings, I loved spending time at her house. With Barb’s four siblings (Mark, Cathy, Carolyn & Joel) it was always a flurry of activity, practical jokes and laughter. Dad Walter took part in the shenanigans and Mom Agnes just kept her cool and quiet composure.
After high school, we said our goodbyes as Barb headed off to St Olaf and I was off to Gustavus, promising to stay in touch. Our dreams of college days, away from home, changed. A year later, we were both back in Fergus for different reasons. Barb came back to help care for her ailing mother.
This unanticipated, somewhat disappointing time brought us back together, a beginnings of a deeper friendship. We shared it all: college roommates at MSU, weddings, babies, raising kids, graduations, grandkids, illnesses and death, laughter and tears, joys and disappointments.
In later years, as couples we took our first vacation to Puerto Vallarta. We all loved PV. We continued that tradition for 16 years until Barb’s death. In that year of 2011, we were waiting for their arrival, but Barb’s medical condition took a turn for the worst 5 days prior to the PV reunion.
Thank you Barb, for always showing me the good side in everyone, being an eternal optimist, for your candor , your uncritical acceptance and your deep devotion to friends and family. I yearn for one more day on the beach sharing a good book, our “soul talks” and the Speedo Alerts.
Miss you, love you, Friends Forever!
Kathleen Johnson (Jerome)
Weren't the potlucks at her house fun with her siblings all around! Remember that big table they had? I miss Barb too, especially since she had the compassion to come to my dad's funeral along with Barb Deering and Jan Trosvig. That is something I will never forget along with Barb's laugh. She was a good, dear friend.
Kathy Johnson Jerome
Barbara Branden (Larson)
Barb and I met in Sunday school at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. We actually sang a duet in church when we were three years old. We went to Clair Ann Shover nursery school , so we spent a lot of time together. Going over to her house on Summit Ave to play was so much fun, such a BIG house. Fast forward to 1967, having her as a roommate along with Jan Trosvig in Moorhead. Lots of fun times to remember with Barb. Miss you Barb.