Obituary of Barbara King

Barbara (Nelson) King, age 89; passed away peacefully on March 4, 2014, in Libertyville, Illinois, with one of her sons by her side, and 31 days after the death of her husband of 64 years, Francis I. (Fran) King. They are together, again, having never been separated for so long. She was born January 15, 1925, in Artesian, South Dakota; the daughter of Clara and Melvin Nelson. The family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, shortly after the start of WWII, during her teen years. Devoted wife and dedicated mother to seven children: Michael (Nancy), Stephen, Jeffrey (Mary, deceased '06), Timothy (Luanne), Kevin, Jennifer (Rich) Williams, and Sarah (Glenn) Balasky. Preceded in death by son, Kevin, in 1968. Proud grandmother to fifteen and great-grandmother to five. To be remembered for her love and commitment to family, especially grand-babies, her never-ending wifely/motherly duties and anxieties, selflessness, inner-strength, discipline, humor, wit; and affection for life-long learning, reading, tennis, and cross-word puzzles. She was a friend to many, a P.E.O. sister, and a ready volunteer for school and community events, including service with the Condell Hospital Auxiliary Guild. She grew up as a tom-boy in rural South Dakota and became a beauty-queen at South Dakota State College, where she met Fran; marrying in 1949 after receiving her degree in Journalism. Children soon followed, in repetition, making her chosen life-long career that of wife and mother. A role she performed extremely well, without any complaints. Upon retirement, and after years of residency in Libertyville, Barbara and Fran lived in Door County, WI, cruising on their boat The FranaBar; then moving to the warmth of Phoenix, AZ. Fran then finally convinced her to return to his beloved Black Hills in Spearfish, SD. They moved back to the Libertyville-area in 2007. Services will be held on Tuesday, March 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 121 East Maple St., Libertyville, IL 60048, with visitation at the church from 9:00-to-9:45am and the funeral mass at 10:00am. Internment of cremated remains, along with those of her husband, Francis, will occur on a later date at Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville, IL; to be attended by family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, or other remembrances, the family would appreciate donations in Barbara's name to St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Libertyville, IL (www.stjoseph-libertyville.org). Funeral arrangements by McMurrough Funeral Chapel 847-362-2626. Please sign the guestbook at libertyvillefuneralhome.com