Obituary: Bacon, Barbara Coleman
Age 99
She was born December 5, 1914 to Elizabeth and Julius Bethke in Appleton, Wisconsin.
They eventually moved to Minneapolis, MN., where she attended St. Margaret’s Academy.
She married Jerome Coleman on November 26, 1936, who preceded her in death in 1943.
They had three children, Barbara Ann, Jerome Kevin and Geraldine.
In 1946 she married Ernest Bacon, a widower who had one daughter, Betty.
Ernest worked for the IRS and after each of his promotions the family would move to another city until he retired in 1968 and they moved to Helena, Montana.
Ernest then taught Business Law and Accounting at Carroll College.
Barbara earned a B.A.
degree at Carroll in 1972.
Ernest and Barbara had two children, John and Richard.
Ernest died in 1982.
Barbara’s interest in art inspired her activities in painting, pottery and stained glass.
Many of her creations adorn the homes of her children and grandchildren.
Barbara also loved fishing, rock collecting and outdoor activities of all kinds.
Barbara continued her artistry throughout most of her life and also tutored reading to children in Helena’s HOST program, played piano for residents at various nursing homes in Helena, loved playing bridge and gin rummy with friends and family, and frequently entertained staff and residents at the Touchmark Assisted living with her piano and singing skills.
Barbara loved visiting with her six children, fifteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and her three great-great-grandchildren.
Sadly, she was preceded in death by daughter Betty; son John; and great-granddaughter Cary Leigh.
She is survived by daughter, Barbara Ann (Ed) MacKinnon; son, Jerome (Mary) Bacon; daughter Geraldine (Paul) Cuny, son Richard (Patty) Bacon; and daughter-in-law, Susan Bacon.
She is also survived by grandchildren: Kristin, Jennifer, Kathleen, Suzanne, Steven, Sevrina, Barbara Sue, David, Bill, Aaron, Anna, Jamie, Marty, Corey and Marci; her nine great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
The family would like to express appreciation to the staff at Waterford Assisted Living in Helena and at Touchmark on South Hill in Spokane for the excellent, loving care provided for Barbara in her later years.
Memorial Celebration will be on Tuesday, June 3, 7pm - 9pm at Hennessey Smith Funeral Home, Spokane, WA.
Another celebration will be on Wednesday, June 4, 4-6pm, Retz Funeral Home in Helena, MT, followed by a Funeral Mass, Thursday, June 5, 12 noon at the Cathedral also in Helena.
Burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Please visit Barbara’s on-line memorial page at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com to leave a message of condolence.