Barbara K. Gits, age 90, of Mankato, formerly of Luverne, died on July 28, 2025, at the Pillars in Mankato, where she has lived for the past eight months.
Funeral Mass was Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at 1 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mankato. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at a later date at St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Luverne.
Northview-North Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Luverne Dollars for Scholars or the Pillars of Mankato Dimensions Memory Care.
Barbara was born to Lloyd and Clara May (McDonald) Smith on October 23, 1934, in Luverne, Minnesota, where she was raised and attended school.
Following her graduating from Luverne High School in 1952, she was employed by the Rock County Bank. In 1954 she was named Miss Luverne. The following year she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in the Navy Department for three years. After that, she returned to Luverne.
On June 8, 1957, Barb married Gordon P. Gits at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Barb and Gordon raised five children in addition to Barb donating her time and talents to her church and community.
When Barb retired from Minnwest Bank, she and Gordy began taking cruises and spending winters in Florida. Barb and Gordy could often be found on their back patio, enjoying the good weather and watching the activity on Highway 75.
Barb was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and a former member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, where she served as a CCD teacher, chairperson for Meals on Wheels, and secretary-treasurer for the St. Catherine’s Society. Barb also served as a Girl Scouts leader and Boy Scouts leader within the Luverne community.
She enjoyed traveling, crocheting, knitting, relaxing outside on the patio and especially spending time with her grandchildren.
Barb is survived by her four children, Theresa Gits-Borgstrom, Paul Gits, Mary Reiggins, and Elizabeth Hackett; two grandchildren, Ashley Olson and Lucas Reiggins; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordon, in 2012; son, Stephen; sister, Mary Elizabeth Dauk; and brother, William Smith.
