Barbara "Babs" Mikkelsen

Barbara “Babs” A. Mikkelsen, 86 of Devils Lake formerly of the Webster ND area passed away on Thursday evening, September 10, 2021, in the loving care of her family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.  The Mass will be live streamed at Facebook.com/stjosephdvl.com

Barbara Ann was born on March 5, 1935, in Devils Lake ND the daughter of Russell W. and Helena (Rutten) Webster.  She grew up in the Sweetwater Lake area of the Lake Region. She attended Freshwater Township School, Webster Public School and Devils Lake Central High School. 

Babs was united in marriage to Bert Mikkelsen on July 5, 1952.  They established their home on the Mikkelsen farm in Morris Township.  In 1954, they moved to rural Webster, living on various farm sites in the area.  In 1970, Barb became the bookkeeper for the White Drug/White Mart in Devils Lake when they opened in the new Holiday Mall.  She retired in 2001.  Over the past years, Babs and Bert have made their home between the farm and Devils Lake.

First and foremost, Babs was a devoted wife and loving mother to five children.  That was more than a full-time job, yet she had the perseverance and determination to pursue a high school diploma and graduated with her GED at the same time her son, John graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1972.  In 1957, our precious Babs was crowned the Queen of Diamonds at the Devils Lake 75^th Jubilee Celebration. 

Barb was never idle so having a garden, tending her flower beds, cooking up the most delicious and favorite foods for family were very important aspects of daily life.  She was a talented seamstress and quite frugal.  She could definitely sew new clothes, but she also could make a worn-out item of clothing get a new life and more years of wear.   When there was time to sit, Barb would be looking out the window with her “bird lookers” (binoculars) searching for the beautiful birds of each season. 

Barb was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church until it closed, then St. Joseph Catholic Church and the respective Altar Societies.  She enjoyed membership in the local Homemaker’s Club and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

The loving family that survives Barbara include her husband of 69 years, Bert; children Debbie (Ron) Nelson, Devils Lake, Cindy (Tony) Heidrich, New Salem ND, Jim (Leslie) Mikkelsen, Webster ND and Barbara (John) Gross, Kingman AZ; 14 precious grandchildren; 23 dear great grandchildren and one adorable great great grandson; sisters Ruth Elton, Bellingham WA, Carol Weed, Devils Lake and Kay Bryngelson, Dewey, AZ; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved son John, grandson Alex Heidrich, sister Mary Leyland and in-laws Herluf and Hope Mikkelsen.