Beth Barker

Beth Barker, 92, most formerly of Bonne Terre, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, at Farmington Presbyterian Manor. She was born April 11, 1934, in Salem, Missouri, daughter of Bruce and Myrna (Gamblin) Bergman. She grew up with two brothers and a sister with grandparents and cousins nearby.

After high school, she and one of her best friends Retta moved to St. Louis as roommates together and history started in the making. In her younger years she worked at a dress manufacturer, a scheduler for Ozark Airlines and took a side gig to earn extra money by flying to different cities and driving one-way rental cars back to St. Louis.

After first appearing in Salem, Arcadia Valley, Bonne Terre and The Arbors at Maplebrook in Farmington, all became home communities to Beth.

Through Beth’s life she found the time to enjoy her interests and was always willing to show another ‘how to’ in sewing, quilting, cooking and photography. She found herself volunteering as an editor and a freelance writer for a column in the community paper in Terre Du Lac. She naturally became known as part of the welcome wagon. There is no question that her favorite interests in life were being a wife, mother and neighbor. She was cherished deeply by her family and all that knew her.

She had a spirit that was determined to be genuinely happy in life and was willing to invest in getting there. To counter one of the biggest empty nest sightings seen in a long time, Beth, at almost 60 years old, decided to learn to play the Banjo. She and Joe joined the local music circuit in Arcadia Valley and enjoyed playing on weekends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Joseph Henry Barker; daughters, Karol Campbell and Sharon Holst; grandson, Michael Baker; sister, Doris Cowan; son in-law, Ken Crocker and sister in-law, Diana.

Beth is survived by her children, Diane Crocker, Kathy Crocker, Michelle Womble and husband Jim, Tracy Malan and husband Tim, Kimberly Phegley (Eric Dodel) and Kelly Michinski; grandchildren, Angie Schmaltz (Rich), Lisa Baker, Michelle Hedrick (Frank) , Mark Baker, Robyn Shrum (Brandon), Tina Cely, Dylan Womble (Amanda), Megan Hastings (Zach), Nicole “Nicki” Wright (Andrew); Jodi Crocker, Deanna Michinski and Quinlan Michinski and fourteen great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, David Bergman (Jeanie) and Jim Bergman; several nieces, nephews other family members and friends also survive.

Visitation will be held at C.Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Desloge, Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The visitation will resume, Friday, July 31, 2026, from 9:00 AM until the service time at 10:00 AM. Pastor Nate Hesse will be officiating. Interment will be held at North Lawn Memorial Park in Salem at 2:00 PM. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.