Barbara Kaye Altstatt
1943-2016
On September 28, 2016, God sent His angels to relieve Barbara and bring her to her final resting place.
On December 31, 1943, Barbara was born to Harris and Gladys McAlmond in Minot, North Dakota. Barbara's mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was pregnant with Barbara. She died at the age of thirty-six and Barbara was 11.
Barbara is survived by her husband Ben of 52 years, her son Marc and his wife Adys, grand-daughter Cristina Dotson and her husband Captain Daniel (Eric) Dotson, and her special angel Tristan Armando Dotson. She is also survived by two special aunts, Mildred Solberg of North Dakota, and Faye Peterson of Washington. She is also survived by stepbrother John Brenner and his wife Carolyn, stepsister Sherrri Meldrun and her husband Ralph, niece and nephew Gretchen and Cory Brenner. She is also survived by her 5 "adoptive" children, Daryl, David and Cheryl King and Brian and Jason Alsup. Survivors also include 9 sisters-in-law, 7 brothers-in-law, and a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, maternal and paternal grandparents and maternal and paternal aunts and uncles, except for the two mentioned earlier. She was also pre-deceased by her stepbrother George Brenner.
Barbara was known for her love of cooking, especially her country fried steak, fried chicken and pot roast. Barbara's cooking adventures started at a very early age. Standing on a box in front of a coal stove "slinging hash" while receiving instructions from her mother. She was also known for her sacks of goodies distributed at Christmastime. The sacks initially started by distributing two packages of fudge to two little boys, one with pecans and one without. She thought the fudge would be shared but instead they took their packages to their room and shared them with no one. Thus, the beginning of the marathon cooking was created which consisted of, 170 pounds of fudge, 15 dozen peanut clusters, 15 dozen almond-covered pretzels, and 15 dozen almond covered peppermint balls. She also baked 112 loaves of bread, 56 were banana nut and 56 were pumpkin, including 6, for somebody special, without raisins.
Barbara's other joy was working in her flower beds and yard until her health started failing her a year and a half ago. She referenced to this as her emotional enema and God-forbid that a weed should find its way into the garden and yard.
The family would like to thank the numerous number of friends for their prayers and well wishes. The family would also like to thank Dr. Aleda Toma and her staff for their excellent care.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel.