Ruby M Barker

Graveside service and interment for Ruby M. Barker will be held on Monday, November 30, 2009, at 11:00 am at the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County Nebraska with Reverend Rick Smith, officiating.

Ruby Marguerite (Sand) Barker, 98, of Billings, Montana, passed away November 18, 2009 at St. John's Lutheran Home in Billings. She was born on October 20, 1911 in Loomis, Nebraska, the eldest of three daughters born to Justus and Hilda (Larson) Sand. The Sand family moved from Loomis to a farm near Haxtun, Colorado when Ruby was 5. She attended schools there and graduated from Haxtun High School in 1929. Ruby earned a degree from Colorado Teacher's College in Greeley, Colorado in 1933. Upon graduating she taught school for 7 years in the Haxtun area. She then accepted a teaching position in Billings Public Schools thinking she would only stay in Montana for 2 or 3 years. Instead, Ruby fell in love with Billings and continued teaching there for another 30 years. She spent most of those years teaching fifth graders at Broadwater School. Following her retirement, Ruby continued to tutor students in various schools and in her neighborhood.

On September 27, 1957, Ruby was united in marriage to Garold Barker. As a result of this union, Ruby inherited Garold's family: daughter, Jodelle (Gene) Shannep of Spring Park, MN, and Jodelle and Gene's two children: Doug (Sheri) Shannep of Poway, CA, and Judy (Bruce) McKeeman of Mound, MN; and three great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter. In addition to Garold's family, she is survived by three nephews and a niece: Robert (Sue) Drage of Loveland, CO, Charles (Carol) Drage of Evergreen, CO, Carolyn (John) Crawford of Arvada, CO, Donald (Kristie) Drage of Longmont, CO; many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews; and her "Billings family," Tom and Judy Nickel and their sons: Brian (Kimberly) Nickel and Douglas Nickel. Ruby had a special place in her heart for her teacher colleagues, former students, relatives, friends and neighbors. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Garold in 1980; her son-in-law, Gene Shannep; her two sisters: Eleanor (Roy) Drage and Doris Sand.

Ruby remained an inspiration to many throughout her life by sharpening her mind, staying healthy, and deepening her faith. She kept her mind alert by reading and studying, entertaining friends and family, and by playing games with new words in order to strengthen her vocabulary. To stay healthy, Ruby worked with a personal trainer and conscientiously learned about and practiced personal nutrition. Ruby loved the outdoors; she especially liked to work in her flower garden and to bird watch. Chickadees were her absolute favorite. She climbed Longs Peak, a fourteen thousand foot peak in Colorado in 1939 and made her way up the stairs to the top of Pompeii's Pillar near Billings at the age of 90.

Memorial donations may be sent to Child Evangelism Fellowship, c/o Doug Nickel, P.O. Box 21337, Billings MT 59104.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.