Dorothy Giffen Barber passed away peacefully May 16, 2022 at Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center.
She was born in her grandparents farm home near Hampton, Iowa on December 21, 1933. As a young girl her parents, Theodore and Minnie Meyer moved to a farm near Humboldt where Ted’s parents lived. She received her education and graduated from Pembina High School. On January 7, 1953, her dream came true when she married Donald Giffen. Together they created a place to call home for themselves and their ever expanding family on the banks of the Red River.
Dorothy loved to sew and embroider. She made several quilts and many clothes for her children and grandchildren. Everyone enjoyed her hand embroidered dish towels. Dorothy and Don loved traveling. They went to Norway twice, Alaska and all over the United States and Canada. As well as a great love of traveling, Dorothy loved family reunions at the farm. Dorothy and Don always had a huge garden with a lot of the produce being canned and enjoyed throughout the year. As an avid baker she loved to make buns, cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls and pies.
They were parents of children: Bette Dawn (Dan) Twamley, Duane (Pam) Giffen, Deloros (Rock) Bakken, Clara (Floyd) Franklin, Cheryl (Mike) Heddan, Tom (Barbara) Twamley, Cindy (Jerry) Ritteman, and Rick (Janie) Clow. Grandparents of 14 and greatgrandparents of 26 and great-great-grandparents of four.
Donald and Dorothy lived most of their married life on the Giffen farm on the banks of the Red River west of Humboldt. Donald passed away December 9, 1995. Dorothy would later marry Wayne Barber December 10, 1997 and move to Wayne’s home in Redwood Falls where she was embraced by another loving family, friends and church family. Wayne and Dorothy Giffen Barber Family: James Barber, Kay (Wayne) Knudson, Wynne (Don) Fischer, Joe Barber, Anne Barber, Ruth (Ron) Timm, 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren. Brother-in-law Lloyd Barber, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by father Theodore Meyer, mother Minnie Meyer, husband Donald Giffen, sister Jean Donley, granddaughter Katie Giffen, grandson John Twamley, granddaughter Sara Twamley, special niece, JoEllyn Heron, husband Wayne Barber, step-son John Barber, brother-in-Law James P. Barber and sister- in-law, Lorraine Barber.
Funeral services were scheduled for Monday, May 23, 2022 at 2 p.m. in the Humboldt United Methodist Church, Humboldt. Interment was in the St. Vincent Cemetery, St. Vincent. Visitation was held at the church for one hour prior to the service.