Barbara Stevenson

1940 - 2025

Barbara Mae Stevenson, of Kearney/Lincoln, Neb. died in her sleep on October 23, 2025.

She was born May 1, 1940 in Chicago, Ill., the only child of Garfield and Constance (Chumley) Swanson.

In 1962, she married Jack Roy Farris in Chicago, Ill. They divorced in 1964. In 1966, she married David Robert Stevenson in Oak Park, Ill. He pre-deceased her in 1997.

Survivors include sons, Michael Stevenson of Appleton, Wisc., Robert Stevenson of Lincoln, Neb.; and daughter, Nancy Gibson (Tim Gibson spouse) of Monument, Colo.

Additional survivors include grandchildren, Jessica (Gibson) Stempert (Christian Stempert, spouse), Andrew Gibson, Mary Elizabeth Gibson, Isaiah Stevenson, Emma Stevenson, Maya Stevenson and Moses Stevenson.

She grew up and attended school in Glen Ellyn, Ill., graduating from Glenbard High School in 1958. She attended Northern Illinois University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and French. After working as a bilingual legal secretary in Chicago, she moved to Kearney, Neb. and became a full-time homemaker until the children were in school.

Her education continued at Kearney State College where she earned a Master of Arts in Spanish in 1977. From 1975 to 1993, she worked at the Kearney Public Library in the Technical Services department. After retirement, she spent many years as a volunteer delivering Meals on Wheels, helping with the Bloodmobile canteen, the Jubilee Center and the Archway Monument.

She was a many-decade member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kearney where she was a Deacon and held various offices in Presbyterian Women and played 25 years with the handbell choir.

Other activities include UNK Faculty Wives Reading Group and Knit, Chat and Sew. A lifelong knitter and quilter, she made countless quilts including for Quilts of Valor and blankets/shawls for Shawl Ministry. She was a member of the Golden K Kiwanis in the early 1990's soon after women were allowed to join the organization.

An avid world traveler for more than 30 years, she visited all continents and achieved the Century Club level of 100 different countries in her lifetime.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David, her parents and many family and friends.

A memorial service to be scheduled at First Presbyterian Church in Kearney, Neb. in late December 2025/early January 2026.