Barbara Ann Beien

Barbara A Beien

Dies Saturday

 Barbara A Beien 

Entered Into Eternal Rest 

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Barbara A Beien, 91, died on Saturday afternoon at Amelia Senior Living in Council Bluffs, Iowa. November 9th was Barbara’s 91st birthday and also the date of her death. She died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be at Schilling Funeral Home on Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm for friends and family. Funeral Services will be held at St. Andrew’s Church in Rock Falls, where she was a member for several years. There will be a short visitation from 9 am to 10 am and the funeral mass will commence at 10 am. Graveside service to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Sterling. She was a faithful servant of God and attended Mass and Holy Days, as well as volunteering to sit with the Eucharist every week. Barbara was born in Sterling, Illinois on November 9th, 1933, she was a graduate of Newman Central Catholic High School, class of 1951. She married James E Smith on April 19th of 1952 and lived with him raising 6 children until his death on September 13th of 1976. She still had 3 children at home, so she went to work at Midlands Bank in Sterling, Illinois until her retirement at the age of 65. Barbara had a very full life and was always involved with her family and had a lot of fun adventures with them. She was best known for her baking and brought baked goods to her neighbors and coworkers on a regular basis. Her specialties were her pies, cakes and cookies. Many people still have fond memories of her baked goods and the joy they brought. 

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Frank M and Margaret (Preston) Beien, her siblings: Frank R Beien, David A Beien and Rita L Modler. Her husband, James E Smith, son-in-law, Kevin Heald and one grandson Bobby Brown.

She is survived by one sister, Margaret Mary Matthews of Washington State.

Her 6 children: Kathleen A (Smith) Holtz and Spouse, Kendall J Holtz of Omaha, NE.

Rebecca (Smith) King and significant other Steven McKee of Midland, TX.

Judith A Heald of Sterling, IL

Marie J (Smith) Eissens and spouse Jesse Eissens of the United Kingdom

James E Smith and spouse, Brenda ( Taber) Smith of Prophetstown, IL

Teresa (Smith) Brown and spouse, Daniel Brown of Lena, IL

She also is survived by 12 Grandchildren, 16 Great Grandchildren and 7 Great Great Grandchildren.