David Lee Barber, 81, Luverne, formerly of Milroy, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Memorial visitations were Monday, Jan. 24, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne and Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Tyler. Burial will be at a later date at Echo Cemetery in Echo.
David Barber was born on Nov. 24, 1940, to Robert and Mildred (Hughes) Barber on the family farm in Redwood County, Minnesota, where he was raised. He was baptized at Philip Brethren #4 where he belonged until age 25. He attended Milroy Public School for primary and high school. David farmed with his father for two years and then began his career in February 1963 with the Redwood County Minnesota Highway Department.
He married Mary (Bailey) in 1967. That same year he was confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Milroy and were blessed with two sons. David and Mary divorced in 1996.
David retired from the Highway Department in 1996 and became the supervisor of West Line Maintenance Township for the next 10 years. He lived with Doug Christopherson in Milroy. He attended singles dances traveled with friends.
David met Elaine Bodey at a dance in White, South Dakota. They kept company as significant others for almost eight years. He relocated to Brookings, South Dakota, and became employed as the Parks Department playground maintenance man. He and Elaine purchased a home in Aurora, South Dakota. Elaine battled cancer and David cared for her until her death.
David met Ruth Skjeie in White, South Dakota, in the summer of 2005, and they were married on Oct. 17, 2007, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Elvis Presley Graceland Chapel in the Woods. David moved to Luverne to join Ruth after their marriage. He commuted to Brookings for a few months. In the spring he joined Hills Stainless Steel in Luverne as the grounds maintenance supervisor until 2012.
Ruth retired from the Minnesota Veterans Home in November 2013. For the next five winters, the couple rented Park Models in RV parks in Texas, Arizona, and Florida. They enjoyed camping at their lake lot until 2015. From then on it was mainly small town life due to David’s health conditions. They enjoyed weekend road trips to visit their children and their families.
David was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. He served on the Milroy fire department for 28 years (treasurer for two years, chief for five years). He also served on the Milroy City Council and the Aurora, South Dakota, City Council, both for two terms each. He enjoyed playing softball and collected tractors, trucks and cars. He also enjoyed lawn-mower pulls, birdwatching, gardening and especially watering tomato plants.
David is survived by his wife, Ruth Barber, of Luverne; two sons, Allen (Nicole) Barber of Tyler, and Brian (Darla) Barber of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three step-sons, Kenneth (Teresa) Skjeie, David Skjeie, and Rick (Shelly) Skjeie, all of Forest City; four grandchildren, Brian Barber, Kaitlyn Barber, Carissa Barber, and Caden Barber; and two great-grandchildren, Raelynn and Ridge Deery; eight step-grandchildren, Amanda (Matt) Adams, Caitlin (Curt) Dillavau, Drew Skjeie, Nicole (Brett) Osterman, Payton Skjeie, Audry Skjeie, Blake Skjeie and Carter Skjeie; seven step-great-grandchildren, Gaga Adams, Oliver Skjeie, Rhapsady Skjeie, Charles Dillavau, Gray Adams, Jake Dillavau and Holden Osterman; siblings Roger (Gwen) Barber of Marshall, Gordie (Twila) Barber of Redwood Falls, Dorothy (Bruce) Drevere of Maple Creek, SK, Canada; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Howard Barber.
Memorials are preferred to cancer research.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(0127 F)