Barbara Jeanette Kerr

Barbara Kerr, age 96 of Morris, formerly of Appleton, passed away Monday, August 22, 2022, at Stevens Community Medical Center-Hospital in Morris.  Visitation will be held 10-11 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 29, 2022,  at First United Methodist Church in Appleton.  Jan Eifealdt and Pastor Guy Redfield will officiate.  Burial will be in Appleton City Cemetery.  A reception will be held at the Appleton VFW following the interment.

Barbara Jeanette Kerr was born November 20, 1925, in Marietta, Minnesota, the daughter of Peder and Inga (Olson) Redfield.  She was baptized March 28, 1926, and was confirmed May 12, 1940, at Faith Lutheran Church in Madison.  Barbara was raised in rural Lac qui Parle County, where she attended country school.  She graduated from Madison High School, Class of 1943.  On October 28, 1945, Barbara was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Kerr at Faith Lutheran Church in Madison.  This union was blessed with over 56 years together.  The couple farmed in Fairfield Township until September 1994, when they moved to Appleton.  Later, Barbara moved to Apple Ridge Estates in Appleton and then The Legacy in Morris.

Barbara was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and was able to visit Norway and her Norwegian cousins in her parents’ homeland.  One winter she and Bob perfected their favorite lefse recipe. Most of us benefited from her lefse-making talents.  She also took pride in making other Scandinavian treats, especially krumkake.  Her many activities included sewing, cooking, baking, walking, gardening, volunteering, and reading.  With baking as a favorite activity, she enjoyed making cookies with her children, grandchildren, and children in the neighborhood.  She often entered goodies and jellies in the Swift County Fair.  Barbara even mowed her lawn well into her eighties!  She was an excellent card player and played in several bridge clubs.  For many years Barbara sewed and hand quilted quilts. When Bob and Barbara were building their log lake home on Battle Lake, she and her sister Julia sewed 9 log cabin quilts. She was a very good quilter and her stitches were perfect.  She is also credited with teaching all six of her children how to sew.

For a few years Barbara worked as a parish secretary for the Methodist and Headwaters Parishes. After Bette and Douglas Beyer died, she again became a fulltime homemaker.  Over the years, Barbara was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church, UMW, and Homemakers, where she held several leadership roles.  Barbara was very active in her church, serving in a variety of ways.  During Bob and Barbara’s retirement they were church custodians.  She was also a 4-H adult leader in her younger years.

Barbara passed away Monday, August 22, 2022, at Stevens Community Medical Center-Hospital in Morris.  She attained 96 years, 9 months, and 2 days of age.  Barbara is survived by her daughters: Becky (Frank) O’Keefe of Medina, Jeanette (John) Pfaff of Appleton, Judy (Dan) Eystad of Morris, Andrea (Kurt) Radke of Duluth, Chayla (Troy) Ostby of Lovell, WY; grandchildren: Kelly (Rich) Sjerven, Russell (Drea) Pfaff, Mitchell (Rebecca) Reuss, Lucas (Liz) Reuss, Ellen (Zach) Cart; great-grandchildren:  June Pfaff, Clara, Amelia, Adaline, and Thorin Reuss; Nathan and Erik Radke, Tim, Ty, Travis (Alexis), Trent (Hailey Praska), and Camryn Ostby; a great-great-granddaughter, McKenna Ostby; sisters-in-law: Deloris Redfield and Ivy Redfield; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; parents-in-law; husband, Bob in 2002; daughter, Bette and Douglas Beyer in 1971; son-in-law, Steven Reuss in 2003; brothers: David, Ingvald, Clifford, Clarence, Everett, and Lloyd; sisters: Elsa Mae, Palma Bjornethun, Julia Billington, Alice (Swenson) Woessner and a sibling in infancy; as well as sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.  Blessed be the memory of Barbara Jeanette Kerr.