Isabel Ann (Shank) Barr

Isabel Ann Barr, 82, died peacefully on July 3, 2019 at her home in Fargo, ND after losing the battle with cancer.  Isabel Ann (Shank) Barr was born on August 19, 1936 and brought great joy to Allen and Nellie (Halliday) Shank of rural Milnor, ND.  She grew up with one brother Leon Shank on the homestead of her grandparents Charles and Eliza (Montgomery) Shank.  She would talk about how her fascination with the Nancy Drew Mysteries would inspire her imagination as she would adventure through the trees to visit her grandparents.  Isabel recalled the “Threshing Era” and hearing the tractor whistles off in the distance and knowing what each signal of the whistle meant.  She loved to tell the story of when they got electricity in the house.  She and Leon would run around the entire house flipping the light switches in amazement. 

Isabel attended a country school near Milnor, ND and then went to Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo for two years.  It was here at Oak Grove that she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  She spent the last two years of High School in Lisbon, graduating in the Spring of 1954.  During these two years being in Lisbon, she became friends with some of the Barr sisters which eventually led up to dating William “Bill” Barr.  Isabel went on to Valley City, ND to get a teachers certificate where she taught at a Country School and also the Gwinner School.

William “Bill” Barr and Isabel married on December 1, 1956.  They lived several miles SW of Lisbon, ND and raised 5 children, Betty, Louise, Willis, Miriam and Allen.

Isabel worked hard as a home maker and working mother as it was necessary raising 5 children. She always had a large garden which resulted in lots of vegetable canning.  She helped raise 200 chickens each spring and butchered them in the fall until the butchering was done by a local business.  She helped Bill in their bulk milk business driving a milk truck farm to farm and then on to Fergus Falls, MN.  She was later a part time rural mail carrier for the Gwinner area for several years until finally retiring.

Isabel had many interests throughout her life.  She loved music, especially Southern Gospel, sewing, painting, reading, playing the accordion, and some traveling to name a few.

With her Love of Christ, Isabel had a strong influence on raising her children in the Church as well as guiding them in their own walk with the Lord.  It brought her great comfort to know all her children are saved by the Blood of Our Lord and Savior.

Isabel is survived by 4 children:  Louise Keplin of Fargo, ND, Willis (JeJe) Barr of Minot, ND,  Miriam Barr of Fargo, ND, Allen Barr of Minot, ND; 8 grandchildren: Matthew (Stephanie) Braisted of Chattanooga, TN, Mark Braisted of Bismarck, ND, Melissa (Ryan) Zimmermann of Sioux Falls, SD, Chad Keplin of Fargo, ND, Megan Moore of Jamestown, ND, Ashley Keplin of Fargo, ND, Mallory (Richard) Allen of Minot, ND, Caitlin Barr of Minot, ND; 6 great grandchildren Sean Dix, Christian Dix, Isaac Barr, Helen Braisted, Robin Braisted and Hunter Keller.  She is also survived by her brother Leon (Verda) Shank of Milnor, ND.

Isabel is preceded in death by her parents Allen and Nellie Shank, husband Willian J Barr, daughter Betty A Braisted.  Her family is comforted knowing she has been reunited with these loved ones.

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