- Date Of Birth: October 31, 1948
- Date Of Death: August 1, 2022
- State: Nebraska
Barbara Lee Magnuson was born October 31st, 1948 in Sutherland, Nebraska to Dellora (Sanders) and Dale Magnuson. Her early years were spent on a ranch at Bucktail, NE with her parents and two sisters. Barbara’s earliest, but not remembered, life experience was the Blizzard of 1949. The family moved to Ogallala when Barbara was 5, where she attended kindergarten through high school and graduated in 1967. She excelled in Mrs. Putman’s elementary dance programs.
Barbara attended beauty school in Lincoln, where she earned her degree. She then worked for Alice Vandevorde in Ogallala. The ladies loved her, she could do their hair however they wanted.
She moved to Denver and went to work for Continental Airlines. They were hiring tall, beautiful women as stewardesses for the new, bigger Boeing 747s.
Barbara returned to Denver. Her bubbling personality and huge smile made her outstanding in the cocktail/restaurant business. This experience propelled her into a career spanning over 20 years as a partner/owner/operator with Bernie Wojek of the Office Bar in Jamestown, North Dakota. Barbara learned to drive in feet, not inches, of snow and had many wonderful friends.
Upon retirement, Barbara returned to her roots in Ogallala, where she has family and friends.
Barbara died on August 1st, 2022, at Ogallala Community Hospital with her family in attendance.
She was preceded in death by her parents and life partner Bernie Wojek.
Barbara is survived by sisters, Roberta (Magnuson) Walker of Keystone, NE and Janice Magnuson of Fort Morgan, CO. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, Aunt Jo (Magnuson) and Uncle Bill Reutzel of Ogallala, as well as her cousins Linda (Magnuson) Tausan of Ogallala and Jean Magnuson of Ogallala.
