Barbara A. Bowman

Barbara A. Bowman, age 77, of Hastings, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Abbott Northwestern Hospital Tuesday evening June 7, 2022. Barbara, the daughter of Donald and Ruth Bristol was born May 2, 1945 in Mankato, MN and raised on a farm in nearby Madelia with her 2 older brothers. Once featured as a "premier farm of its time", it was there Barb got her life long hard work ethic, as well as her love for animals, gardening, harvesting, cooking and baking. After graduating from Madelia High School, Barb met Larry Bowman and they we married in Fairmont, MN on August 10, 1963. They lived in nearby Truman briefly before moving to Hastings and starting their lives together. Barb and Larry built a home with help from Larry's dad (a carpenter) and a cousin that "dug basements". Besides being a life long homemaker and raising 2 boys, Barb worked for several local businesses over the years including the manufacturing of the 'pokey" toy, a nursing home care giver, and worked 38 years before retiring from Smead Manufacturing in 2010. For the last several years Barb held a 2nd full time job at Walmart in the evenings before finally going part time and retiring prior to Larry's passing in 2015. Even in retirement Barb didn't slow down. She loved going to garage sales, and she especially looked forward to the annual 100 mile sales. She also liked collecting cookbooks, embroidery, puzzles and tying blankets. Barb's love and generosity was seen and felt by those who knew her and many who didn't. From the many annual greeting and holiday cards she mailed, the farm style meals, homemade dough biscuits, desserts, pies and banana breads of all varieties, to the100's of blankets she made for friends and family, including annual donations of blankets to Minneapolis Children's Hospital and annual puzzle donations to Abbott NW Heart Hospital. A highlight in Barb's final weeks was seeing a photo of a smiling little girl with one of her blankets. Barb touched many lives and will be missed dearly by her family and friends. Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; infant daughter, Tammy Kay; parents, Donald and Ruth Bristol; and brother, Junior; brother in laws, Doug Fink and Maynard Bowman. She is survived by her sons, Rodney (Cheryl) of Oakdale, and Timothy of Hastings; granddaughter, Faith; brothers, Lonny Bristol of Mankato, and Jerry Bristol of Madelia; sister in laws, Audrey (Ralph) Schwab and Sandy Fink; and many nieces, nephews and very close friends. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, June 30, 2022 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St. in Hastings.