Barbara Jeanne Anderson was born to Hjalmer & Borghild (Borgie) Larson March 20, 1936, in Baudette, MN. She joined 3-year old, big sister, Lois, at home, but, sadly, lost her to a city park fire 2 years later. In 1943, another sister, Carole, arrived, and shortly thereafter, the family relocated to Detroit, MI, where, to support the War effort, their dad went to work at a munitions plant. Upon their return to MN, a couple of years later, Dianne (“Dinny”) came along, to make the family complete.
Barb was an active, but rather serious child, but, while the Larsons were in Michigan, she joined the Campfire Girls and loved to dress up in her uniform. Back home, she attended the local elementary school, was active in the children’s programs at First Lutheran Church, and got herself a borrower’s card from the kind and thoughtful public librarian, Alma Engh, who was also her Sunday School Superintendent. Then, when she was old enough, she joined 4-H and discovered what became a life-long passion for sewing. This endeared her to her Grandma Olga, who had become an accomplished seamstress in Norway before emigrating to the U.S. (She also taught her grandchildren the benefits of knowing how to cook a perfect pot of lutefisk and bake lefse to serve when everyone came in the door after a carol- singing Julebukken hayride.)
At school, Barb especially loved her first grade teacher, and when it was time for Carole to start school, she escorted her from Uncle Ted’s bus, and deposited her in front of Miss Cozette Perry’s desk, while proudly an nouncing: “I already taught her to read!”
In jr high, Barb chose to play the melophone in the Band and to join the Choir. When she got to high school, Barb, like many hundreds before and after her, adored the legendary, dynamic English teachers, Jeanne Brovold and Esther Carlson.
Barb met the gentle farm boy who was to become her husband, through his friend, Verner Anderson, who happened to be her cousin. They dated through high school and were married in 1953.
Ron and Barb lived most of their 60 years together in the Border area, where they dairy farmed and were active members of the Border Evangelical Free Church. During their early years, they provided foster care for a small boy named Joey and a little girl they called Kathy, for a joyful time that was special to all of them.
Barb loved gardening, frying a mean chicken dinner, or putting together a satisfying wild rice soup,
raising beautiful flowers, spoiling her menagerie of furry friends, teaching Sunday School, and helping in the kitchen at the Blackduck Bible Camp with her good friend, Winnie Hasbargen.
Barb completed her Nurses’ Training at Rainy River College in the 80’s and then worked at the Pioneer Nursing Home and then Lakewood Care Center for several years, while Ron drove the Maxivan. Ron died in 2013, and Barb moved to Northwood Commons in Baudette, where she met lots of new friends before she rented an apartment at the Arc until it was time to downsize some more and choose a room at Lakewood Care Center, where, like most of the other residents, she felt blessed by the exceptional and loving care she received from all the staff, until Oct 10, 2024, when she went home to be with her Savior and Lord.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Lois and Dinny, stillborn brother, Eddy, husband, Ron, sister-in-law, Virginia, niece, Cheryl, nephew, Jon Randall, brother-in-law, Tom Kelley, and a stillborn niece. Barb is survived by her sister, Carole (Jerry) Randall, niece, Jennifer (Jason) Schneider, great nephew, Dillon Schneider, great niece, Alyssa (Adam) Hartman,
niece-in-law, Kathy Randall, great nephews, Jake and Jared Randall, niece, Sheila (Jim) Daniel and family, and nephew, Thomas Kelley (Christy) and family. Barbs is also survived by her beloved guardian, Dale Holte, and his wife, Christina.
Funeral and graveside services are scheduled for Oct 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Border Evangelical Free Church. Pastor Mark Mast will officiate.
Last modified: 10/15/2024
