Barbara Healy

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Obituary

Barbara Healy, 69, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab Center in Mitchell. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM Wednesday, December 18, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at St. Patrick Cemetery in Montrose, SD. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7:00 PM at Holy Family Catholic Church with a 6:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Barbara Ann Oberembt was born December 18, 1954, to William C. and Edna (Roth) Oberembt in Mitchell, SD. Barb attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic grade school at Dimock, and Parkston High School. Barb was baptized and confirmed at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, and her faith was greatly important to her throughout her life, and she instilled that in her children and grandchildren, it also was influential in furthering her education at Mount Marty College earning a BS in Radiology. She enjoyed a 40+ year career in Nuclear Medicine at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, Rice Hospital in Willmar MN, and Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell.

As a youth, Barb enjoyed animals and driving tractors and was known to “overrun the pig’s water tanks” more than once leading to cleaning the hog barn. She also was pitcher for the girls softball team at Dimock.

Barb truly enjoyed her years as a health care provider and took great pride in performing the tests with the utmost in patient care and with a positive, loving attitude.

Barb met her future husband Lee in Sioux Falls and they married September 18, 1981 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Dimock. Barb and Lee had two children, Scott and Lora. Barb was a devoted mother and loved taking the kids to their various activities in their younger years. As her children grew older, she was a devoted supporter of her children at 4-H, Boy & Girl Scouts, hockey, band, and show choir competitions. Over the years Barb loved being outdoors gardening, landscaping, tending flowers, canning, loving her Springer Spaniels, and various outdoor cats. She especially valued her time with the grandchildren in later years. She kept the home warm and welcoming to guests while trying to make it a perfect home, sharing her love with all guests, and enjoying one on one conversation with many friends.

Although dementia took many valuable years from Barb, in her suffering she never lost her faith, nor expressed anger and hate due to the diagnosis. Even to the very end, she would awaken when hearing prayers, the rosary or mass being said, and would look intently at the Crucifix. Through her suffering, she helped Lee and her health care team become better people as they cared for her sacrificially as they humbly put aside their own desires to tend to her needs. She still loved her chocolate, pumpkin pie, and fresh flowers till the very end.

Barb is survived by her husband, Lee of 43 years; son, Scott (Mandy) Healy of Hartford, SD; daughter, Lora (Seth) Wiesen of Grand Island, NE; grandchildren: Aidan, Eva, and Elliott Healy as well as Sawyer, Lenny, Willa, and Josephine Wiesen; her dad, William Oberembt of Mitchell; brother, Todd (LaShawn) Oberembt of Dimock; sister, Tracy Gran of Sioux Falls; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Edna.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to John Paul II Catholic School in Mitchell, or Avera @ Home Hospice in Mitchell.

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