Barbara Ann Slager of Dayton, Mont., died at age 94 on Dec. 22, 2022.
Born in Monte Vista, Colo., on Sept. 16, 1928, Barbara was the daughter of Charles and Willa Huckins. Charles was a rancher and Willa was a teacher. Both were members of the Range Riders Hall of Fame.
Barbara graduated from high school in Miles City, Mont. She got her teacher’s certificate at Colorado Women’s College and kept it active through the University of Montana.
As well as traveling all over the world with her late husband, a colonel in the United States Air Force, Barbara taught school on some Air Force bases, and later on in Bondurant, Wyo., and in Whitefish, Mont.
Barbara was an avid skier and golfer. She participated in ranch work, and was no stranger to handling cows and horses. She was an excellent artist, with a collection of live paintings. She made many improvements on her parents’ ranch in Dayton and she gave of her finances to help others. She was unselfish, the salt of the earth. She liked to play card games, especially cribbage. She loved to talk with family and friends and everyone loved her. She is missed, but we know she’s in a better place.
Barbara had no children. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Jean and Patricia.
Barbara died peacefully of natural causes, brought on by kidney complications. She was under hospice care at the end.
There will be no memorial service for Barbara. Her ashes will be spread in Broadus, Mont., at a date to be determined.
