Services for Barbara will take place on Saturday, March 4 at 10:00 A.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, March 3 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. For online condolences or questions, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Barbara Lee Miller was born on October 28, 1928, in Mediapolis, Iowa, to parents Daniel and Ives Miller, and was the oldest of five children. Barbara attended Eldora High School and graduated from Conrad High School in 1946. After graduating from Marshalltown Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing in 1949, she worked as a nurse at Marshalltown Community Hospital. Barbara married Howard Merlin Rosfjord on November 23, 1949, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They made their home on a farm near Dunbar, Iowa, where their three children were born. In spring 1954, they moved to farm near Montour, Iowa, until settling on the “home place” near LeGrand in 1963. She was an active member of Gilman Community Church, serving in many leadership positions, teaching Sunday School and serving on the committee for “Smorgasbord,” an annual Norwegian dinner fundraiser attended by people from surrounding communities at Christmastime. She joined O.E.S. in 1951 and was a member of Central Chapter #67 Marshalltown. She held the office of Worthy Matron and accompanied her husband in his duties as Grand Sentinel, Grand Chapter of Iowa O.E.S. in 2001-2002. As the mother of three young children, she started the “Married Mixers,” a social club for young farm wives. There are five living members of the original group, which is now known as the “Dunbar Breakfast Club.” Barb and her husband also enjoyed square dancing with their neighbors at the Central Iowa Squares club.

Barb returned to nursing at Marshalltown Community Hospital after her children were born. She joined the staff of Grinnell General Hospital in 1966, retiring in 1992. She loved being a nurse, working in obstetrics, medical-surgical, as a nursing supervisor and infection control nurse. After retirement, she volunteered for Iowa River Hospice and later served on its board. Barb enjoyed traveling with her husband, and they had two memorable trips to Hawaii where their son, Merlin, was on assignment for Pioneer Hybrids. She always had a cross-stitch project going and gifted many people with her beautiful creations. Barb was a lifelong learner and an early adopter of technology. She learned to use a computer in her 60s and continued for her entire life. Barb loved to read and listened to Audible books after her vision failed. After Barb and Howard retired from farming, they moved to the Mayflower Community in 2006. She soon became active in the Mayflower Residents Association and engaged in a variety of activities, both social and educational. The community became a home to her, and she was beloved by both residents and staff. One of Barbara’s greatest joys was family, and she and Howard often hosted holiday gatherings for their large extended families at their farm. She delighted in her grandchildren, helping them experience the joy of petting kittens and picking apples. She loved holidays and insisted on decorating for them even after she moved to assisted living. Barb enjoyed educational activities, Hawkeye basketball, listening to books and music and learning new things until her passing at 94 years of age. She was a friend to all and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by her brother Jerry Miller, Conrad, sister Joyce Wiese, Carthage MO, son Steve Rosfjord, LeGrand, daughter Mary Jo (Kevin) Keith, Coralville, and daughter-in-law Rebecca (Merlin) Rosfjord, Durant. Also grandchildren Kristin Keith, Chicago IL, Katie (Shane) Volz, Tiffin, Shannon (Chris) Chase, Adel, Nate (Kari) Rosfjord, North Liberty, step-grandchildren Angela Murphy, Myrtle Beach SC, Bryan Murphy, Durant, Christina Murphy, Washington, D.C., and Thomas Murphy, Wilton. Great grandchildren are Mitchell Volz, Trevor Volz, Addy Miller, Henry Miller, Logan Chase, Alex Chase, Brooke Chase and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband Howard Rosfjord, brothers John Miller and Gordon Miller, and son Merlin Rosfjord.

For any donations made in her honor, her family requests givers direct them to The Barbara Rosfjord Scholarship in the College of Nursing, University of Iowa Center for Advancement, or Iowa River Hospice.

— Lovingly written by the family