Barbara Saum

Barbara Saum, 88 of Sheridan, MT, formerly of Kearney died Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Tobacco Root Mountain Care Center in Sheridan, MT. Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Thursday, April 12, 2018 at the Elm Creek United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00pm Wednesday at the Elm Creek United Methodist Church. Barbara was born Sept. 15. 1929 in Elm Creek, Nebraska the oldest child of George and Frances (Peterson) Mitchell. After graduating from Elm Creek High School, she attended Kearney State Teachers college for several years and then taught in Holdrege, Nebraska. In 1951 she married Lewie Dughman and they moved to Lodgepole in 1953, and their son Kent was born that year in Sydney. They moved to Lorenzo, NE where she taught music and intermediate grades. She later came back to Elm Creek and taught until she and Kent moved to Casper, Wyoming and she continued teaching there. She received her BS from Kearney State and a Master's degree in Special Education from Montana State University. In 1976 she came back to Elm Creek while waiting for paperwork to be done to join the Peace Corps. During that time, she and Hal Saum renewed their friendship from college days and they married in December of 1976. In Elm Creek Barb was involved in the Methodist Church, Women’s Club, Eastern Star, bridge clubs, garden club, and was Elm Creek’s city librarian. After Hal’s retirement, they moved to Kearney where they were active in Faith United Methodist Church, choir, and Barb also in Genealogy Society and Buffalo Co. Trails and Rails Museum. Barb loved her family, researching and writing about family history and Elm Creek’s history, music, playing bridge, flowers, and traveling to many countries and most of the 50 states. In the fall of 2017 she moved from Kearney to live with her son and wife in Sheridan, Montana. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, George and Frances Mitchell, husband Hal Saum, and sister-in-law, Jean Mitchell. Survivors include son Kent Dughman and wife Vickie, brothers, Bill (Lou) Mitchell of Kearney, Bob (Pat) Mitchell and Jim Mitchell of Elm Creek, sister Connie (Bob) Olsen of McCook, step-daughters Janet Stull, Terri (Burt) Winchell, Cynthia (Kirk) Ostgren, Trish (Roy) Wilkerson and Lisa (Michael) Monnet, 8 grandchildren , 2 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many friends. She leaves a legacy of faith in God, great interest in life, a gentle spirit, and love for family and friends which will be missed. Memorials are suggested to Elm Creek United Methodist Church, Faith United Methodist Church of Kearney or donor’s choice. Condolences may be share online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

Barbara Saum

September 15, 1929 - April 6, 2018