Barbara Hespe, 67, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.  Funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 10:00AM at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at the United Methodist Church from 5-6PM with a prayer service beginning at 6:00PM.

Barbara Abbey Hespe was born March 2, 1951 to Raymond and Rhoda (Storrud) Abbey at the Baptist Hospital in Winner, SD.  She was the youngest of seven children and was affectionately referred to as the Beetle Bomb by her dad.  Barb was raised on the family farm northwest of Witten, where her and her siblings helped with chores around the farm, with Barb's least favorite being milking cows.  She attended South Curlew school through the sixth grade and then went to Witten School through her junior year.  Growing up she was active in 4-H and various school activities including basketball and cheerleading.  Barb graduated from Winner High School in 1970.

Barbara married the love of her life, Ronald Lee Hespe, on June 28, 1968.  In December of that year their oldest son, Bryan, was born, and in March of 1971 Barb and Ron welcomed their second son, Clay.  In 1975 they moved in to their current residence and in December of that year their daughter, Abby, was born.  Barb worked through high school at the Winner Westside Café.  She went to work for Rutherford's Rexall Drug and then later worked for Dave and Elaine Smith at the SEARS store until it closed.  She worked various jobs until her retirement from Winner Regional Healthcare Center in 2014.

Barbara was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary and spent a lot of time volunteering for those organizations.  She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and was a Junior Unit Leader.  Barb's favorite pastime was time spent with her family, whom she cherished dearly.  She loved watching her grandchildren participate in activities and was their biggest fan.  Barb could always be counted on to share a memory or story and was always quick with a joke.  She enjoyed taking trips and loved taking in the beauty of the places she went.  She enjoyed camping and boating when she was able, and this summer she and Ron celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Cedar Shore Campground.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 50 years, Ron; mother, Rhoda Abbey, Winner; children:  Bryan (Kim) Hespe, Winner; Clay (Cary) Hespe, Parkston; Abby (Cody) Jorgensen, Ideal; grandchildren:  Hattie Hespe, Layne and Natalie Hespe, Phillip, Emma and William Jorgensen, Felicia and Brianna Gronenthal; Siblings:  Rae (Joseph) Tyburec, Gregory, SD; Donna Tyburec, Winner, SD; Mike (Renee) Abbey, Hudson, WY; Linda (Allen) Devish, Winner, SD; Susan (Nick) Frank, Valentine, NE; brother-in-law Neil Frank Jr.,  and numerous nieces and nephews, family, cousins, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her father, Raymond Abbey, grandchildren Lynae and Marci Hespe, sister, Dianna Frank, father-in-law Louis Hespe, mother-in-law Georgia Sund Rappe, brother-in-law Jerry Hespe, sister-in-law Deborah Dodd, brother-in-law Frank Tyburec, nieces Annette Devish and Catherine Whitney, nephew Jeff Hespe, great-nieces Shauna Pravecek and Jordyn Hespe and great nephew Adam Dodd.