Barb Yost

Mary Barbara Yost, 97, Murdock, MN, died Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Copperleaf Senior Living in Willmar, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 24, 2022, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock, MN. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Cemetery in Murdock, MN. Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home. www.zniewskifuneralhome.com

Mary Barbara (Barb) Dowswell Yost was born on October 27, 1924 to Lucille Murphy Dowswell and Walter Dowswell, M.D. She passed away at the age of 97 on January 18, 2022 at Copperleaf Senior Living.

Barb grew up in Kerkhoven and was the first Homecoming Queen at KHS. She graduated in 1942 and subsequently attended the Minneapolis Business College. During WWII she worked as a secretary in Washington, D.C. for the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

She returned to Kerkhoven and had a first date with William (Bill) Yost on V-J Day. Courtship ensued, and they married July 18, 1946.They farmed south of Murdock for decades, moving to Kerkhoven for 30 years and then to Copperleaf Senior Living in 2009.

Barb was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother; Bill was the love of her life. She thrived on being a homemaker and was known for being an excellent cook and baker. Barb valued her friends and enjoyed having them over for tea and treats. Embroidery and quilting were favorite pastimes, and she was an avid reader.

Barb is survived by her children: Catherine (Richard) Tate, Michael (Sandra) Yost, and Susan Yost; grandchildren:  Matthew (Anupama) Tate, Michael Yost, and David (Kimberlee) Yost; great grandchildren:  Akshay, Ashok and Amit Tate; Ava, Harrison, Luca and Emmeline Yost; and sister Catherine Brandt.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents Lucille and Walter Dowswell, infant twin brother Michael (Mickey) Dowswell, brother W.J. (Jim) Dowswell, Jr, and grandson John Tate.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on February 24 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Murdock. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Funeral arrangements are by the Zniewski Funeral Home, Benson.

Her family extends a heartfelt thank you to the exceptionally caring staff at Copperleaf Senior Living.