Barbara M. Redmond

Barbara M. Redmond, 100, of Aberdeen, SD formerly of Ellendale, ND died September 24, 2019 at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen. A memorial service will be 11am Thursday, October 3 at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale, with Pastor Barbara Krumm officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service. Burial will be at Ellendale City Cemetery. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.   Barbara John McMillan was born in Mazon Illinois on April 13, 1919 to J.C. and Pearl McMillan. The family moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota, in 1925. She graduated from Wahpeton High School before the family moved to Ellendale in 1936 when Mr. McMillan became president of the State Normal and Industrial College. After attending NI for three years, she worked in Minneapolis for two years before traveling to California in 1941. She worked for Lockheed Vega during the time when the company was making P-38 fighters. It was there that she met Harold Redmond, who was then stationed at the naval base in San Diego. She continued working in the Los Angeles area and living in Hollywood until Harold returned from the Pacific Theater of War in 1944. They were married in Hollywood September 3, 1944 and were then stationed in Miami, Florida until the end of the war. After a brief visit to his mother in Ohio, they moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota, where he went to the State School of Science. They then moved to Forman, North Dakota, where he apprenticed for a year and received his Master Electricians license. They moved to Ellendale, North Dakota in 1947 where he started an electrical wiring business, Redmond Electric. Barbara worked there as bookkeeper and continued in that capacity after Harold and his then partner, Alvin Marvick, purchased the then Dunphy Hardware in 1961 which then became R&M Hardware Electric affiliated with the Our Own Hardware Company. Although the partnership ended in 1965, the Redmonds continued to own and operate the hardware store until 1991. After retirement, they enjoyed traveling until his eyesight would no longer permit. After Harold's death in 1995, Barbara continued to live in their home, but would travel to Aberdeen to work as a receptionist at the Aberdeen Dermatology Clinic two days a week for a number of years. She moved to Aberdeen in 2013 and lived in Davis Court, Nano Nagle Village, and most recently Mother Joseph Manor until the time of her death. In addition to being a devoted daughter, wife, and mother, she was a member of Chapter I, P.E.O. for 73 years, and was the state president in 1970. She was a past Matron of Adah Chapter No. 8. O.E.S., was active in the Presbyterian United Methodist Church, and was a member of the library board. She and her husband enjoyed waterskiing at Elm Lake and archery. She was once State Field Archery champion. Barbara was an avid reader from an early age, devouring every book written by L Frank Baum, and later almost every book written in science fiction and fantasy as well as mysteries and detective novels. She could remember the authors and plots of almost every book she had ever read in addition to names, dates, addresses, and telephone numbers for the past 80 years. She loved cats and often remarked that no outfit was complete without at least some cat hair on it. She lived a quiet life, but absorbed all information like a sponge. If you wanted to discuss science, medicine, history, religion, politics, or the event horizon of black holes, she was a wellspring of information. She was not given to overwhelm you with unwanted information but would quietly give well reasoned information and sound advice if requested. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold, her sons Bruce and Kirk, and daughter-in-law Jane (West) Redmond. She is survived by her younger brother Robert (Carol) McMillan of Stow, Ohio, her son, Dr. Warren Redmond (LeAnne), Aberdeen, daughter-in-law Elaine Redmond, South Hutchinson, Kansas, and grandchildren, Ian Redmond, Denver, Colorado, Kathleen (Ethan) Pippitt, Pretty Prairie, Kansas, Logan Redmond, Phoenix, Arizona, Erin Zachow, Aberdeen, Meghan Issenhuth (Tom), Bozeman, Montana, and Brigid Culey, Kansas City, Missouri, and four great-grandchildren.