Barbara Mary Schnaser

Barbara Mary Schnaser, age 85 of Milbank, SD, passed away on September 27, 2023, in Sioux Falls, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville, MN.

The service will be live streamed and recorded and viewable below this obituary.

Barbara Mary Steen was born on October 6, 1937, in Ortonville, MN. She was the daughter of Oscar and Josephine (Greuel) Steen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville and graduated from Clinton Public School in Clinton, MN, in 1955.

Barbara attended the College of St. Catherine School for Nursing, graduating in 1958. She attended four months at St. Mary’s School of Anesthesia in Minneapolis. Barbara was united in marriage with Heinz Hildebrandt at Holy Rosary Church in Graceville, MN, on February 27, 1965. She combined her lifelong career of nursing and being a farmer’s wife. They farmed in both Malta and Almond Townships in Big Stone County, MN. Heinz passed away in August of 1987.

Barbara married Gordon Schnaser on November 4, 1990, in Grant County, SD, and gained two more children (Gail and Kevin). They made their home in Grant County, living in Revillo, and finally in Milbank. Gordon passed away in 1997.

Barbara enjoyed traveling and visiting family. She ventured throughout Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. When she was at home, she could be found tending her flowers and doing yard work. She was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and was involved with the Visiting Committee and was a Sacristan.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: William Hildebrandt of Chokio, MN; Josephine Eastman (Jay Homrighausen) of Clinton, MN; Jeraldine (Anthony) Ritter of Chokio, MN; Jacqueline (Gregory) Hawley of Sierra Vista, AZ; Frederick (Epetacia) Hildebrandt of Watertown, SD; Leif (Wanda) Hildebrandt of Minneapolis, MN; Gail (Steve) Street of Milbank, SD; and Kevin Schnaser of Revillo, SD; 11 grandchildren: Eric Eastman, Jordan Eastman, Jessica Eastman (Chris Hamlin), Dani Hicks, Brittany (Jake) Folk, Gregory (Breana) Ritter, Kelly (Aaron) Popp, Erika (Adam) Athey, Hailey Hildebrandt, Alyvia Hildebrandt, and Michael Hildebrandt; great-grandchildren: Hunter, Fischer and Wylder Hawley, Chaxton, Brander, Ramzey and Hudson Hicks, Mikaela and Liam Johnson, Joseph, Joshua and Joanna Ritter, Blake and Harrison Popp, Jaxson and Aiden Athey, Ruth and Matthew Hamlin; brothers/sisters-in-law: Gerald Aarhus, Dora and John Barnett

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents: Oscar and Josephine; husbands: Heinz Hildebrandt and Gordon Schnaser; her sister, Harriet Aarhus; her brother Joseph Steen; and her 32nd great-grandfather, Ragnar Lothbruk.