Barb grew up in Grand Rapids, and coming from a large, musical family, she says music was never optional — it was a way of life. “When I was young, it wasn’t asked, ‘Are you going to be in the band?’ It was, ‘What are you going to play?’” Her main instrument was the oboe, but she also learned piano, which later led her to the organ.

Barb fondly remembers her time in the marching band, where she played cymbals (since you can’t march with an oboe) and later the tenor drum in college. Music has always been woven into her life. “I don’t know where I’d be without music,” she says. “It was my lifeline.”

Barb met her husband, Jim, at the Newman Center at St. Cloud State. When Jim told her he had 13 siblings, Barb laughed and said, “I knew he had to be Catholic!”

After marrying in Grand Rapids, Barb and Jim lived in Sandstone for eight years before moving to Bigfork. The couple spent 32 years there, both teaching in the local school. Barb taught instrumental music for 15 years, helping young children discover the joy of playing music. When they eventually returned to Grand Rapids, Jim joked, “Every 40 years, 
I bring Barb back to the promised land.”

Barb and Jim raised four children — two sons who live nearby, and two daughters who live in the Twin Cities and Colorado. She’s also a proud grandmother and great-grandmother.

Jim became a deacon in 1983 and was known for his infectious smile and joyful spirit. “My husband was a very, very happy person,” Barb recalls. “He could always find the good in everything.” That same joy shines through Barb’s music.

When she and Jim arrived in Bigfork, the church only had a small home organ — more suited for children than liturgy. Then, a generous donor, inspired by her husband’s devotion to the Blessed Mother and his belief in her healing power, gifted the church a new organ. Along with it came organ lessons, and since Barb was the only one who could play piano, she became the organist and recipient of those lessons.

Though she still plays the oboe, Barb spends most of her time at the keyboard, simply because there aren’t many volunteers. She plays at both the Saturday and Sunday Masses and jokes, “I don’t have much else to do anyway, so I don’t mind.”

Father Blake Rozier, pastor at St. Joseph’s, says Barb humbly shares her gift of music with the parish, bringing joy to people of all ages. “People walk into church carrying all kinds of burdens,” he says, “and through her music, Barb helps lift their spirits.”

She describes how music can take you away — to a beach, for example, where the sound of waves and water becomes a sacred rhythm, bringing you to the shores of Galilee where Jesus taught so many times.

At church, music is never chosen randomly, she explains. Barb ensures each song aligns with the message of the week’s liturgy. “If they played all the music I’d want at funerals,” she jokes, 
“it would last three hours.”

Some of her favorites include Carry Me Home, Holy Is His Name and On Eagle’s Wings — which she learned directly from the composer during Jim’s time in the diaconate program. She’s always discovering new favorites as well. “There are so many beautiful new songs.”

She especially enjoys playing with a choir. “It’s so much more enjoyable when it’s not just you,” she says.

Father Blake never had the joy of meeting Deacon Jim, but he’s heard many stories of his generous spirit. “I’m sure that through their shared witness, Jim and Barb brought joy to many souls.”

Apart from her music, Barb has written a book titled Companions on Life’s Journey, inspired by Jim, who was a writer and English teacher. “I wasn’t a writer,” she says, “but people kept telling me to write down stories from our trips.” The book is a collection of short reflections, many of which turn into pilgrimages in their own way — whether through the places she visited or the experiences she had. Her travels have taken her to Rome, Medjugorje and beyond.

She’s currently working on another book, set to release in the spring. It’s a lighter read, filled with meditations, photography and reflections on how music can transport the soul. Her daughter is helping edit the book, and family members have contributed photography.

In this new book, Barb explores how music and imagery intertwine. “Music is in everything,” she says. One section features stunning photos of eagles, paired with songs that reflect their majesty. “In your journey of faith, where God is leading you, music is everywhere. It might not be music you like, but it’s music to somebody.”

Barb’s ministry of music has been a quiet yet powerful force, weaving faith, hope and love into the hearts of all who hear her. Through every hymn, every gentle chord, and every moment of shared song, she has lifted spirits, deepened prayer and built community. Her gift is not just in the music itself, but in the way she uses it to serve — faithfully, humbly and joyfully. Barb’s ministry will continue to resonate in the lives she’s touched and in the spirit of worship she’s helped cultivate, inspiring others to carry the song forward.