Barbara (Staff) Johanneson

Barbara Johanneson, 85, of Hazen, ND died peacefully on November 28, 2022 at the Knife River Care Center, Beulah, ND. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CST on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at St. Martin Catholic Church, Hazen, ND with Fr. Thomas Grafsgaard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 6:00 PM CST on Friday, December 2 at St. Martin Catholic Church with a vigil service at 6:00 PM.

Barbara was born to Clarence and Alice (Brude) Staff on August 9, 1937 in Virginia, MN.  She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1955 and from the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND in May, 1983 with a degree in Communications. Barbara married Kent Johanneson on August 23, 1958 at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, ND. 

Barbara was a loving person to everyone.  Her love for family and friends will be cherished forever.

Barbara was active in her Catholic faith.  She served in many ways at St. Alphonsus church and school in Langdon, ND from 1964 – 1969.  In August 1969, the family moved to Bismarck, ND where she continued to love and support her family and the church of Corpus Christi and as a room mother at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit school.  Barbara assisted her husband, Kent with managing family businesses. 

In 1984 Barbara was selected as Credit Manager for Stein Industries in Minneapolis, MN, a position she held until her retirement in 1995.  She was devoted to her family; and assisted with mission work at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church. Barbara worked with the Missionaries of Charity in Minneapolis, MN, Bronx, NY, Chevy Chase, MD and Washington, DC where she served as the House Mother for unwed mothers at the Queen of Peace home. 

In 2005, Barbara returned to Minneapolis, MN to assist her Aunt Gertrude Brude in her advanced age.  In June 2010, Barbara moved to her beloved North Dakota and resided at Senior Suites in Hazen. When her dementia illness progressed, she moved to the Knife River Care Center in Beulah.

Barbara is survived by her former husband, Kent Johanneson and their children, Joni (Sheldon) Cieslak, Bill (Dawn) Johanneson, Susan (Richard) Reeves, Jane (Steven) Fussy; her grandchildren, Jenna (Tyler) Hanson, Jordan Cieslak, Kamaria Cieslak, Austin (Amy) Cieslak, Bret Johanneson, Megan Johanneson, Luke (Mikayla) Fussy, Will (Emily) Fussy, Alison Fussy and Adam Fussy; three great grandchildren, Bennett Hanson, Madilynn Hanson, Anna Fussy; her siblings Dotty (John) Brugge, Ron (Paula) Staff, Gordon (Kim) Staff; her sisters-in-law Carole (Harry) Miller and Tillie Johanneson; and many nieces and nephews.  

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Alice Staff, sister, Clarice Staff, mother and father-in-law, Ann and Helgi Johanneson, brother-in-law Jay Johanneson and sister-in-law Jeanne Turner and nephew Alec Cummings.

The family is forever grateful to the staff at the Knife River Care Center for their love and support throughout the years.

            Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara (Staff) Johanneson, please visit our floral store.