Trending
Nov. 6, 1953-Sept. 24, 2026
Fargo
Barbara Eva (Kuntz) Berentson, 72, Fargo, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Edgewood, Grand Forks, ND under the care of HIA Hospice after a battle with breast cancer. She was a (15) year survivor.
Barbara was born to Barbara (Volk) and Frank Kuntz on November 6, 1953, in Rugby, ND. Barbara was the fourth of 13 children. She grew up on the family farm in McHenry County near Orrin, ND which was an original German-Russian homestead. Her paternal grandparents homesteaded there after immigrating from South Russia in the early 1900's. Her mother's side of the family were also immigrants from South Russia. Barbara remembers getting their first telephone, indoor plumbing, and running water in seventh grade. She graduated from Drake High School in 1971.
Barbara married Kip T. Berentson on October 29, 1977. They have three children and nine grandchildren. Rolanda Deeds, (Eric) Manhattan, Kansas, and their children Emily and Alexander; Alysia Campani (Jeff) Grand Forks, and their children Reid, Lucia, and Dominic; and Lance (Nicoleta) Minot, and their children Taylor, Addison, Lana, and Cristina.
Her support of her husband's Army career began in 1977. They left their home state of ND and spent time at seven duty stations in Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, moving as duty called, including two overseas tours to Berlin and Bayreuth, Germany. The most challenging time was when her husband was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and she and the children remained in Germany. She bloomed where she was planted.
Barbara began her banking career while stationed in Germany and continued at each duty station thereafter. She spent 28 years in the banking world. After retirement, she continued for nine more years as seasonal help at Carol Widman's Candy Store.
In her spare time Barbara enjoyed reading, sewing, cooking, baking, puzzles, biking, and going for walks.
Barbara is survived by her children, grandchildren, and siblings. Survivors include her sisters, Betty Bachmeier and Candy Munyer (Troy) of Rugby, and Mona Kuntz (Mario) (Cano), Haines City, Florida, brothers, Mike (Cindy), Washburn, Frank (Linda) and Bill (Chris) Stanton, Larry (Gwen) Mandan, Ken (Kris) Rugby, Darryl (Mary Jeanne) Lancaster, Kansas and Wayne (Hilda) Eckelson, ND.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kip, her parents, Frank and Barbara Kuntz, infant brother Neil, and her sister Sr. Carol Jean Kuntz, (SMP).
At Barb's request, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fargo National Cemetery.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 11:00am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks, ND. Visitation with the family will be held an hour prior to the Mass, as well as a formal visitation held the evening before, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:00pm at Amundson Funeral Home in Grand Forks, ND. Lunch with the family will follow the Mass on Thursday. Burial will take place at Fargo National Cemetery in Harwood, ND on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:00am.
Services are under the guidance and care of Amundson Funeral Home in Grand Forks, ND.
Published by The Minot Daily News, September 26, 2026.