Barbara Ann Milton, age 83, of Hendricks, MN passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the Hendricks Nursing Home. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, February 27, 2020 at the Wood Lake Lutheran Church, rural Astoria, SD. Burial will be in the Wood Lake Cemetery, rural Astoria. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. with a 5 p.m. Prayer Service on Wednesday, February 26th at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks, MN.
Barbara Ann (Olsen) Milton was born August 25th, 1936 in Canby, Minnesota to Clifford and Dorothy (Hoseck) Olsen. She attended country school until 7th grade and then went to school in Canby, Minnesota and graduated from there in 1954. She was baptized and confirmed at Marble Lutheran Church and was a member there for many years. After school Barbara was a switchboard operator. Barbara married the love of her life, Clarence “Lefty” Milton, on September 28th, 1957.
Barbara and Lefty lived in Canby right after marriage and farmed in rural Canby, MN for a few years. They later moved to rural Astoria, SD and farmed and milked cows until 1990. In the mid 1980’s Barbara became a cook and dietary aide at the Hendricks Hospital where she worked for more than thirty years. In January of 2003, Lefty died unexpectedly and Barbara’s whole world changed. She made the hard decision to move into Hendricks that fall. She lived in the same house until a month before her death. She spent her final days in the Hendricks Nursing Home.
Barbara was a talented woman who shared her joys with many people. She was a beautiful singer, an amazing baker, and loved her flowers. She would sing at many different events throughout the years including ladies aid, weddings, and funerals. She baked numerous wedding cakes and Lefty was always by her side to help her deliver them to the happy couples. If you were ever to visit any of Barbara’s homes, you could see her love of flowers immediately. She had many amazing flower beds in a rainbow of colors. She could tell you the name of each flower and if it was an annual or perennial. Digging in her flowers gave her a feeling of peace and calm.
Barbara was a lover of birds, horses, dogs, and many other creatures that she came across. Barbara loved her family. She and Lefty had four children and five grandchildren that meant the world to them. She was a member of the Astoria Legion Auxiliary for many years as well as served on the Astoria School Board. She was also a member of the Literary Club and liked to paint and took some painting classes.
She is remembered by her children: Julie (Mike) Buchholz, Lesa (Daniel) Lindgren, Joel Milton and Lori Milton; grandchildren: Jessica (Mark Galloway) Buchholz, Trey (Chelsea) Buchholz, Joseph Lindgren, Thomas Lindgren and Autumn Buchholz; brother Robert (Bernadine) Olsen; nephew Chad (and Faith) and their son Ryder; niece Cerissa (Erik) Gile and Tucker and Nora Brown; and all her nephews and all her great nieces and nephews on the Milton side. She will be greatly missed by everyone but welcomed with loving arms by Lefty.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Clarence “Lefty” Milton, her parents Clifford and Dorothy Olsen, her nephew-in-law Brook Brown, and most of her brother and sisters-in-laws.