Obituary: Menke, Barbara (Brown)

Age 86

Sun., Feb. 8, 2015

MENKE, Barbara (Brown) Barbara (Brown) Menke died peacefully in her sleep on January 28, 2015.

She was born Barbara Lee Parent on May 9, 1928 to Frank and Edna Parent of Barber, ID.

The family re- located to Milton-Freewater, OR, where she was raised on a farm with her sister and three brothers.

Barbara moved to Spokane, WA in 1947 to attend the Morse School of Beauty.

She was a beautician in the Spokane Valley for many years.

Barbara married Oliver W. Brown and had two sons, Bob and Don.

Sadly, Oliver passed away in 1958.

Barbara raised her boys independently, then met and married Richard (Dick) Menke of Spokane in 1972.

They were married until his death on February 20, 2009.

Barbara enjoyed travelling with her sons when they were young.

She and Dick shared this passion.

They frequently went camping, took several cruises and rode their motorcycles to Key West, FL and back.

Barbara was an expert seamstress, making several of her outfits for the cruises.

She belonged to both the YWCA where she enjoyed taking classes and a womens club where she made lasting friendships.

Barbara had a loving and gentle spirit, she will be missed by all who knew her.

Barbara is survived by her sons, Bob Brown, Don (Linda) Brown; stepson Rex (Pat) Menke; grandsons Jeff (Barbara) Brown, Gary Brown; great-grandson Orion Brown, and a second great grandson, Keifer Brown is due next month.

There will be no memorial service at this time.

Please visit Barbara’s guestbook at www.Legacy.com

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