Barbara was born on July 7, 1938 at the family’s home farm in Buckingham Township, Tama County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Gerald and Noreen (Speer) Ewing. Barbara attended Buckingham Community School for 1st through 8th grade. After 8th grade graduation from Buckingham and the Tama County Schools, she attended high school at North Tama School in Traer, Iowa, and graduated in May 1956. Following graduation, she attended Gates Business College in Waterloo, Iowa. While living in Waterloo, she met and married Kenneth Strohbehn of the Dinsdale area. They were united in marriage on September 20, 1957 at the Geneseo United Methodist Church near Buckingham, Iowa. The following year, Kenneth and Barbara moved from Waterloo to the family farm southwest of Traer, Iowa. Barbara worked for 4 years at the Tama County A.S.C.S. Office until their family arrived. Kenneth and Barbara were the parents of five children and the grandparents to 8 children and 4 great-grandchildren. Kenneth and Barbara farmed all of their married life in the Traer, Toledo, and Gladbrook area. Barbara was a member of the Crystal Township Friendship Club, active in the Gladbrook United Methodist Church as a member of the choir, a past Youth Leader, and the Gladbrook UMW. Other community activities include the Gladbrook Women’s Club and formerly the Tama County Porkette Organization. She also enjoyed her children and grandchildren and their activities as well as cooking, sewing, and being able to help others. Barbara was especially remembered for all of the lives she touched with her community involvement and cooking talents. She was involved in the Amity United Presbyterian Country Church as a Youth Leader and touched the lives of many people throughout the community. She published a cookbook of family recipes to share with her family and the community to remember. No matter what time of day it was, she was always willing to feed visitors who were staying for an afternoon or just stopping by; no one ever left her home hungry. Over more than 25 years, Barbara dedicated lots of her time to writing cards on account of the United Methodist Church. Overtime she sent hundreds, if not thousands, of cards for a variety of occasions ranging to get well soon, birthdays, anniversaries, and even just thoughtful messages. Her cards were sent across the country to family members, church and community members, and family friends and reminded everyone who received them how much she loved them.

Barbara is survived by her husband: Kenneth Strohbehn of Gladbrook; five children: Scott (Jennifer) Strohbehn of Traer, IA, Grant (Susan) Strohbehn of Gladbrook, Noel Strohbehn of Knoxville, IA, Shawn Strohbehn of Gladbrook, David (Sandra) Strohbehn of Polk City, IA; eight grandchildren: Brianna and Brandon Strohbehn, Wesley (Anna) Strohbehn and Kelli (Kevin) Gartman, Megan Balmer and Lindsey Smith and Alexis Utterback, and Jacob Strohbehn; and four great-grandchildren: Landon and Levi Balmer, and Clara and Lydia Strohbehn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Noreen, and one brother, Jere.