Deedra Ann Barber

POLSON — On Aug. 1, 1945, in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va., Warren and Ad Bilben welcomed their firstborn child. They named her Deedra Ann. Over the years the family grew with the addition of Steve, Hans, Ted and Jill. During her growing up years her family lived in Mankato, Laporte, Hollandale, and International Falls, all in Minnesota. Free time was spent with family and friends in the woods and on the lakes of Northern Minnesota.

While in high school she worked part time for a veterinarian who had a large animal practice. Dee always loved animals and found this work to be very rich and interesting. She also spent a couple of summers working at Itasca State Park.

After graduating from Falls High School in 1963 Dee attended one semester of college at Mankato State College. She and a friend then worked the rest of the winter as nurse's aides at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. Dee then embarked on two years of nurses training in Virginia, Minn., leading to her profession as Licensed Practical Nurse. Dee worked one year in the hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. in surgery and then in 1967, following her adventurous spirit, she sold her car and flew to Alaska to look for work.

Dee was hired first by Alaska Native Health for the winter and then worked at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute in Anchorage. While working in Alaska Native Health she spent a lot of time in remote villages. While in Alaska she met and later married Bill Boswell. Together they had three sons, Eric, Beowulf, and Will.

For the most of her adult life Dee worked as a nurse and lived in North Carolina, Minnesota, Ontario, Canada, and Montana. In 1976 the family settled in Plentywood. While in Plentywood Dee and Bill divorced. A couple of years later she met and on Nov. 29, 1986, married a United Methodist minister, Russ Barber. To her family was added of Russ' three children: Tasha, Holly and Paul. Russ' responsibilities as a pastor moved the family from Plentywood to Choteau for eight years. It was during this time she decided to take a break from nursing and enjoyed working for a couple of years at the Coast to Coast Store. They were next sent to Worland, Wyo., for a year, back to Choteau for a year of renewal, then to Polson, where they have lived since.

Dee's passion for life extended to her hobbies, which included her love of gardening, listening to music, oil painting and reading. She shared her books with family and friends. She loved nature whether it was gardening, feeding birds in her yard or enjoying the outdoors.

Dee was at home with the water since she was a little girl. Her sense of adventure extended to rafting with her sons on her 60th birthday, water skiing, fishing and her annual Polar Plunge in Flathead Lake on New Year's Day. Dee was at home with a camera and always made certain that pictures were taken of friends and family to capture good times together. Her greatest love was for her family and friends.

The world was blessed by this adventurous and caring woman, who loved life and the people in it. Now heaven is blessed to have Dee, who went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 11. No matter what life brought Dee, she was always there for people in need and the people she loved. The time has come to set Dee free. Her unending love will always surround her grandchildren, children, husband, brothers, sister, parents and all her family members and friends. The memory of her will help us to smile and love life as she did during her time on earth.

Dee's memory will be lovingly cherished by her husband Russ of Polson; children, Eric Boswell and his wife Alicia Bradshaw of Bozeman; Tasha Brockmier and her husband Clint of Billings, Beowulf Boswell and his wife Julie of Crystal, Minn., Holly Simonson and her husband Eric of Plentywood; Major Will Boswell serving in the U.S. Army in the Philippines, Paul Barber and his wife Annie of Missoula; 10 grandchildren, Amie and Noah Brockmier; Carter, Jacob and Nolan Boswell; Marshall, Dakota and Kia Simonson, and Garrett and Franchesca Barber, with another little Simonson due in August; her parents, Warren and Adelaide Bilben of International Falls, Minn.; siblings, Steve "Butch" and his wife Renae of Kasilof, Alaska, Hans Bilben and his wife Jeanie of Anchor Point, Alaska; Ted Bilben and his wife Joanne of International Falls, Jill Chapman and husband Doug of Soldotna, Alaska; numerous precious nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

Dee taught us all so many lessons; to enjoy the small and simple things in life, that sometimes the small gestures mean the most, to care and help others, and always enjoy life.

There was a memorial service celebrating Dee's life on July 17 in the First United Methodist Church in Polson.

Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory, Polson.

The family suggests donations to Mission Valley Aquatics or to the charity of the donor's choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com