Barbara Valer

Barbara Valer, age 81, of Huron, passed away on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, surrounded by her family.

Her life will be celebrated with a service at 10:30 AM, Saturday, November 8 at the Riverview United Methodist Church in Huron. Her service will be live-streamed.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the church on Saturday.

Barbara Bernice (Wilson) Valer was born August 1, 1944, (sharing a birthday with her Irish Great-Grandfather Peter McCabe) in Harvey, North Dakota, to C. Jack and Bernice Beatrice (Lacy) Wilson. She was raised and educated in Hurdsfield, North Dakota, graduating in 1962 as Valedictorian in a class of five girls. Barb grew up in the family store, Wilson's Grocery, learning family values and basic pre-calculator math waiting on customers and stocking shelves.

Barb attended college at North Dakota State University graduating in 1966, with a BA degree in Mathematics and a minor in Music. She met and was engaged to her future husband, James David Valer, son of Martin and Sylvia Ione (Anderson) Valer, while working in food service at NDSU. Jim was Agricultural Engineering student and ROTC cadet. In the fall of 1966, Jim was assigned to Air Force Meteorology training at Texas A&M University, while Barb took a short-term job teaching math at Colfax, North Dakota. They were married November 23, 1966, in the Lutheran Student Center Chapel and made their first home in student housing on the A&M campus.

Upon completion of Meteorology training Jim was transferred to Incirlik AFB, Adana, Turkey. Barb accompanied him on this overseas assignment and taught some evening adult education courses on base. The world seemed to be a safer place back then and they were able to explore the country side and do some traveling throughout Europe together without fear of terrorist activity.

They finished their Air Force commitment at Grand Forks, ND AFB and relocated to Fargo, North Dakota, where Barb had taken another short-term position teaching junior high math at neighboring Moorehead, Minnesota, and Jim enrolled at NDSU to pursue a MS degree. First born child, Kristine arrived during this time making her first home in married student housing on campus. After graduation they moved to Huron, South Dakota, in 1971 where Jim took a job as Engineer and Environmental Coordinator for USDA Rural Development, then called Farmers Home Administration.

Erik, Dana and Heidi were born in Huron and Barb and Jim immersed themselves into Our Savior's Lutheran Church and the community. Barb settled into motherhood and founded the Huron Area La Leche League for nursing mothers. She also became an outspoken nutrition disciple, causing her children to complain that when other kids brought cupcakes to school for treats, they had to bring protein balls!

She was a tireless church and community volunteer in other organizations such as Adult Day Care, Hockey Parents, Band Parents, Miss State Fair Pageant, Billy Graham Crusade, Thursday Night at the Park, Chautauqua, Church Women United, Beadle County Risk and Resource team, Nursing Home Entertainer, Relay For Life, Our Saviors Church Council and the ELCA Church Synod Pastoral Call Committee. She was recognized for her volunteer service by Modern Woodman and was honored as a Friend of Little League Baseball. In more recent years, Barb became involved in the work of the United Methodist Women.

Music was always a big part of her life. She was a member and past president of Thursday Musical, and she performed regularly with church and ecumenical groups, both as a soloist and as a member of the "Sisters of Harmony" and "Forever Friends".

Once her family was largely raised, Barb returned to the classroom full-time from 1985 to 1995, teaching Math at Huron High School. However, she then followed a dream and devoted a number of years to a Gospel Music Ministry serving as a Lay Minister / Speaker at rural congregations throughout Eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Still a teacher at heart, Barb did briefly return to the classroom twice more. She taught elementary music at Cavour in 1998 and 1999, and was an adjunct Math and Education professor at Huron (Sri Tanka) University briefly beginning in 2000. She continued to share her talents teaching individual piano and guitar lessons in her home studio for many years.

Barb's life was filled with many blessings, but the one she cherished most was her family. No matter the occasion, Barb continually showed support for her family in their many adventures.

Grateful for having shared in Barb's life is her devoted husband, James Valer; four children, Kristi (Linc) Kattner, Erik Valer, Dana (Lisa Quiram) Valer and Heidi (Marty Jolley) Valer; twelve grandchildren, Lauren (Devon) Melillo, Sylvia (Jaime) O'Neill, Jamee Kattner, Karlie Valer, Riley Vanderlei, Rose Garcia, Lily Mosley, Karter Valer, Cassie (Cullen Beals) Valer, Silja Valer and Rybeka Valer-Jolley; one brother, Curtis Wilson; and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Gene Wilson; one sister, JoAnn Peterson; three sisters-in-law, Noreen Wilson, Carol Wilson and Jeanie Valer; one brother-in-law, Brian Dinkins; and two nephews, Kirk and Warren Wilson.

"Remember to keep your eyes on heavenly things, a song in your heart, and seize the day - it's the first day of the rest of your life!" - Barb Valer

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