Barbara Jo Neshem Warner

Okanogan, Wash.

Barbara was born January 6, 1946, in Minot ND daughter of E.G. (Bud) and Josie Neshem.

She attended Rolling Green School, a small one room school served by one teacher, teaching grades 1-8. I don’t remember the number of students, but probably no more than 20. I attended that school through 6th grade. Seventh grade, the school was closed and all the children were bussed to Des Lacs. Barbara graduated from Des Lacs High School salutatorian of her class.

During my senior year I started working for Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator. I continued working for the telephone company after graduation. The following year I married Harlan M. Warner, my high school love, and we moved to Bismarck, ND. I transferred from the Minot office to the telephone office in Bismarck. Our son, Barry, was born in Bismarck.

We moved from Bismarck to Okanogan, WA in 1966, the year after Barry was born. The Okanogan Valley embraced us and became our HOME. (which is more of a ‘feeling’ than a ‘place’)

Barbara worked as the Okanogan public librarian satisfying her lifelong thirst for knowledge and love of reading. She enjoyed all books from autobiographies to historical novels, poetry, text and reference books. She loved ‘intuiting’ what type of books her patrons would enjoy reading and soon had many patrons relying on her to have their ‘next’ book waiting for them when they came in. Often hearing them say “what do you have for me to read this week?”. Barb also enjoyed doing the children’s story hour. Remember “Hunker CHA” and “Cheese, Peas, and Chocolate Pudding”?

I made many friends being librarian and remember the first time I met Judy Hook and her two lovely daughters when they moved to the Okanogan. I remember the first time meeting Janet and the instant connection and my thoughts “I Like her”.

From librarian I went to work for The Okanogan Air Service, starting as bookkeeper and growing into “Girl Friday”. There I gained my private pilots license and spent many years enjoying the challenges of flying and sharing that love of flying with family and friends. On several occasions I encountered snow flying and soon got the reputation of: If you wanted to know if it was going to snow, call Barb and see where she was flying to!

In 1987, I went into the retail business, opening an arts and crafts store, starting with local consignment from local artists and crafts people. That soon grew into home decor and gifts store as I shared my love of beautiful “eye food”. Believing that it is the items that you decorate your home (and yourself) with after the basics of table, chairs, bed that ‘tell’ who lives in that home, what is beautiful to you, that shares a ‘story’ about you. I have always enjoyed people that I can connect with on a deeper, soul to soul level. I want to know what motivates you to get out of bed in the morning. What do you enjoy? What makes you smile (on the inside)?

From home decor/gifts, the store metamorphed – grew as I grew, changed as I changed, into more of a ‘metaphysical store’ – books, music, crystals, candles. I trained and started teaching yoga, became a Reiki Master, reflexologist, electromagnetic field (chakra) balancing, aroma therapist, healing touch therapist and more. My clients became my friends and family.

My Family:

My greatest gift to this world: my children, Barry and Sharlyn. They are our greatest pride and joy. Through them we have grown, learned and loved in ways we never dreamed possible.

Nothing really prepares you for the challenges, responsibility, and incredible joy of having children. I remember how much the responsibility of being a parent frightened me – still does – but your children are great teachers, if we just knew how to be better listeners!

It is with great joy we have welcomed and loved our three grandchildren, Justin, Brianna and Helen!

Each year I love my husband, Harlan, more deeply – doesn’t seem like nearly 60 years together! I desire to spend more and more time just “being” with him!!

I believe at the end of this earthly life there is only one question: Did I Love enough?

That it is only the Love that goes with you and lives on in the lives you leave behind, and that it is that love that will re-unite you one day.

Barbara passed away on December 5, 2023.

Visitation for friends was held from 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM Thursday, December 14th at River Valley Funeral Home on Elmway in Okanogan. A service was held 10:00 AM, Friday, December 15th 2023 at River Valley Funeral Home with a brief graveside following at the Conconully Pioneer Cemetery.

Published by The Minot Daily News, December 19, 2023.