Barbara Ann "Lee" Odegaard

I'm free, Praise the Lord I'm Free.

No longer bound, My soul is resting, It's just a blessing.

Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, I'm Free

On Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, God in his infinite wisdom dispatched an angel who whispered, "Barbara, your road has been rough, you have suffered enough, you've fought a good fight, now come home to rest".

Our beloved, Barbara Ann Lee Odegaard was born on March 2, 1941, in Williamsburg, VA, to the late Thomas E. "The Cigar Chief" Lee Sr. and Berleatha Johnson Lee. Known for her infectious smile, unwavering generosity, and love of adventure, Barbara was the eldest of six children.

Barbara graduated from Bruton High School in 1959. She participated in EVERYTHING, including the High School Choir, the National Honor Society, and was elected Homecoming Queen. Even in high school, she was destined for royalty, and the Queen B moniker took hold. She later earned a degree in Business Administration from Virginia Peninsula Community College.

In the early 1960's, Barbara met Oswald "Ozzie" Emory McDonald Ien, a tall, handsome soldier stationed at Fort Eustis. Ozzie was a native of New York, and at the end of his time in the service, he returned to New York City, and Barbara later followed. Their daughter Karen was born in 1966.

Barbara fit right into the fast-paced New York City lifestyle. She enjoyed Broadway shows, fine dining, and, of course, shopping. She worked for several companies, including American Express and Bache & Co., before landing her dream job at the United Nations. She loved learning about new cultures and meeting new people as her adventurous spirit led her to accept an international assignment working in Naqoura, Lebanon. Barbara and Ozzie eventually went their separate ways, and she began her next adventure working for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Barbara loved to travel and took advantage of the opportunity to visit countless international destinations and show Karen the world.

While in Lebanon, Barbara met another tall, handsome military man, Brigadier General Bjorn Cato Odegaard from Oslo, Norway. They served together at UNIFIL, and upon his retirement, he invited her to visit Oslo. Barbara and Bjorn married in 1992, and again she immersed herself in a new culture. She learned to speak Norwegian and even donned the traditional Norwegian Bunad dress to celebrate Norway's Independence Day on the 17th of May every year.

Just like her high school years, Barbara participated in EVERYTHING; her favorite community activities included the International Women's Club, the Sunday Gospel Brunch production, and Democrats Abroad. She was instrumental in registering thousands of Americans living in Norway to vote in the 2008 and 2012 elections. She was an avid Obama supporter and traveled back to the states to work on both Democratic National Conventions in support of his 2008 and 2012 campaigns. She was a regular volunteer at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, and she was in the room when Barack Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008. It was an unforgettable experience for Barbara and her family. Her political activism led to several interactions with the late great Congressman John Lewis. He visited Oslo, Norway, in 2011, and Barbara was instrumental in gifting the Congressman a photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1966. This small token brought the Congressman to tears.

During her later years, Barbara devoted herself entirely to caring for her husband Bjorn, who was fifteen years older and in poor health. She cared for him until she was unable to, and in 2021, she returned home to Virginia to be with her family. Barbara lived at home with Karen and Ray until December 2025. When her body started to fail, and she entered the final stages of Dementia, Barbara lived at the Edgeworth Park Memory Care Center in Williamsburg. While her time there was brief, she continued to carry her title as Queen B with style and grace. Her infectious smile and generous spirit will forever remain in our hearts.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Bjorn Cato Odegaard, and her siblings, Thomas E. Lee Jr., Edward White Jr., and Edna Williamson.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Ien Newby (Ray) of Mattaponi, Virginia; three grandchildren, Jessica Rae Rouse (Ben) of Hopewell, Virginia, Karynne Renee Imani Campbell of New York City, and Kalen Alexis Campbell of Bowie, Maryland; three great-grandchildren, Joseph Xavier Rouse and Lucas Dean Rouse of Hopewell, Virginia, and Skyra Bloom Bernard of New York City; siblings, Dale Lee Cherry of Alexandria, Virginia, Marjorie Yvonne Bannister of Williamsburg, Virginia, Thomasine Lee Lewis of Newport News, Virginia, Louise White Marsh of Williamsburg, Virginia, Roger Lee of Yorktown, Virginia, Joseph White (Javone) of Hampton, Virginia, and Mark Lee (Crystal) of Newport News, Virginia; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, many other relatives, and caring friends throughout the world.

A service to celebrate Barbara's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. John Baptist Church - Williamsburg. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. Mrs. Odegaard may be viewed in the church beginning at 12:00 p.m. until the hour of her service.

Professional services have been entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com