Barbara Grensted

Barbara J Grensted

1929 - 2018

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Obituary of Barbara J Grensted

 

     Barbara J. Claus was born 1929 in Peoria, Illinois, the

         only child of Herman and Betty Claus.  Her family

         eventually moved to California, where she attended high

         school and college..

 

         In 1954 she graduated from Biola College with a degree

         in education and a minor in accounting.  While she was in

         college she met Douglas Grensted, who was in the Navy.

         They got married in 1954 and eventually settled in

         Grover City, where her husband went into a mortuary

         business with his father.  Their daughter Beth was born

         in 1955 and another daughter Lynne was born  in 1957.  

 

         In 1968 her husband went on a hunting trip to Lake

         Tahoe and never returned.  After extensive

         investigations he was never found, forcing Barbara to

         care for her daughters, who were 13 and 11 at the time.  

         Barbara sold the mortuary business and in 1969 she and

         her daughters moved to Mt. Hermon where her      

         husband’s aunt and uncle lived.  Because finances were

         tight she was always resourceful and taught her

         daughters to do the same.  She worked at odd jobs over

         the years before eventually coming on staff at Mt

         Hermon Christian Conference center  in the accounting  

         department, where she worked for 18 years.

 

         Barbara was always very involved in the churches she

         attended, where she taught Sunday School, was on a

         missions committee, and volunteered in various duties

         including counting offerings, folding bulletins and what

         ever work needed to be done.  She was very interested

         in missions, praying for and financially supporting

         missionaries over the years.  She volunteered with     

         Habitat for Humanity on one of their builds.  She was a   

         Girl Scout Troup Leader for about 5 years.  She had a

         reputation in Mt. Hermon for knitting baby sweaters.   

         Usually whenever she finished one there was always

         someone who was pregnant and in need of one.  

 

         Barbara had two grandchildren, David and Becka

         Thurston, and always loved spending time with them,

         either when they would visit her in California or when

         she visited them in Oregon.  Over the years there

         where many who called Barbara their Mom.  

 

         She is survived by her daughter Beth Grensted, her

         daughter Lynne Thurston and husband Alan and  

         grandchildren David (and wife Meghan) and Becka.  Her

         family always meant very much to her.  

 

         Barbara will be greatly missed by many people.  She will

         be remembered for her faith, loyalty, kindness,  

         helpfulness, and motherly love.  Our loss on this earth is

        truly heaven’s gain.

        Child of god, Mother, Grandmother and Friend. A memorial service will be held onSunday,                October 7, 2018 beginning at 3:00 p.m.in theMt. Hermon auditorium.

 

 

  

 

 

 

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Sunday
7
October

Memorial Service

11:00 am
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Mt. Hermon Auditorium
37 Conference Dr.
Mt Hermon, California, United States