Barbara Renae Ness

Barbara Renae Ness

June 9, 1953 - June 17, 2017

Barbara Renae Ness, 64, of Bemidji, MN died Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora Ontario, Canada.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN with Rev. Genelle Netland officiating. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 pm Wednesday and one hour before the service at the Cease Family Funeral Home. Interment will be at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Bemidji, MN.

Barb was born June 9, 1953 in Bemidji, MN, the daughter of Arnold and Marlys (Anderson) Johnson. She was raised and educated in Bemidji graduating from Bemidji High School in 1971.

She married Darrell Lussier on August 28, 1971 in Bemidji. She graduated from Bemidji State University with an Education degree. She started teaching at the Red Lake Elementary School ISD # 38 in 1986 and taught 2nd and 3rd grade and was a Title I teacher until she retired in 2007. She was a very dedicated teacher, making sure every child was cared for and had a birthday cake on their special day. She married Duane Ness in June 22, 2002 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Bemidji. Following her retirement, Barb and Duane made their home at Sportsman's Harbor near Morrison Canada from May through October. Wherever Barb went or worked, she created a sense of community. She would be concerned about everyone she came into contact with and would make sure their needs were taken care of. The Eagles auxiliary was a special volunteer interest as well as the Sportsman's Harbor community where she was known by the handle "one-liner" on the marine band radio. She was know for her sense of humor and her cooking that always fed family and friends in times of need or celebration. She like to sew, crochet and chat on Facebook. She above all loved to be Grandma to all her grandchildren and spend time with them and fill them with her love.

She is survived by her husband, Duane Ness of Bemidji,

daughter, Sarah (Robert) Reynolds of Red Lake,

sons, Wayne Lussier and Nick Lussier of Bemidji,

stepson, Derrick (Stacy) Ness of Bemidji,

stepdaughter, Marsha Ness of Bemidji,

7 grandchildren, Chelsey, Jessie, Emily, Darrell, Kenny, Tommy, and Jonah,

a great grandchild, Raidyn,

a sister, MaryAnne (Aaron) Powers,

and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Arnold and Marlys Johnson and her first husband Darrell Lussier in 1992.