Anne Barnhart

Anne Barnhart, loving mother and grandmother, age 84, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Monday, September 28, 2020 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Friday, October 2, 2020 at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Anne Marie Barnhart was born on October 23, 1935, to Alvin and Audrae (Ervin) Wiblemo. She attended school in Mitchell, South Dakota, and grew up with brothers, Jerry, Ronnie, and Andy (her twin), and sisters, Marilyn and Carol. Following high school, Anne attended Dakota Wesleyan University and obtained her teaching degree.

On July 1, 1955, Anne married her high school sweetheart, Don Barnhart. Throughout their 46 year marriage, Anne and Don made homes in Philip, He Dog, Pine Ridge, White River, and Mt. Vernon, South Dakota, and Hilliard, Ohio, before retiring in their childhood home of Mitchell. Anne and Don devoted their lives to improving the education system in South Dakota and raising their six daughters: Victoria Lynn, Leigh Anne, Kimberly Marie, Kathleen Carol, Kristine Elizabeth, and Kelli Jean.

Anne’s passion was her family. She was a mother of 6, dog/cat mom of 8, grandmother of 24, and great-grandmother of 25 (almost 28). Anne was an avid reader, lover of animals, and devoted sports fan, especially if one of her grandchildren—or Tiger or Michael—were playing. During basketball season, you could always find Anne in the front row bleachers cheering on the Chargers, Tigers, Kernels, or Coyotes. Anne was a fierce Bingo competitor, and annual patron of the Krogman Quarter Horse Sale. Anne liked a good steak, the Prey books, visiting with friends and family, watching Fox News, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Animal Planet, Powerball and scratch lottery tickets, shopping, a McDonald’s Egg McMuffin and coffee (with one cream), and Donald Trump.

Those who knew Anne will remember her for her kind heart, pure soul, and generous and loving spirit. She was an incredible listener and had a quick, but kind, wit. She will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her. We find solace and comfort in knowing that she is now in heaven with her mother and husband, both of whom were taken from her too soon.

Anne is survived by her brother, Andy (Jean), and sister, Carol (Paul); her daughters, Vicki (Jason), Leigh (Steve), Kim, Kathy (Steve), Kristi (Neil), and Kelli (Philip); pets, Bella, Lily, Oliver, Thomas, Madison, Casey, Thor, and Loki; grandchildren, Jacki, Rob, Louie, Jake, Wyatt, Jenni, Timmy, Ashley, Brady, Blake, Jesse, Katie, Briana, Alexis, Ryan, Donnie, Nicole, Anne Marie, Jordan, Noah, Sidney, Grace, and Jack; and great-grandchildren, Tinsley, Dabian, Stevie, Avery, Ella, Kennedi, Stratton, Callaway, Cooper, Charlotte, Aubrey, Alyvia, Camryn, Corbin, Quinn, Spencer, Peyton, Nash, Lo, Zetta, Quayson, Henry, Braxton, Leo, and Banks.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Audrae Wiblemo; husband, Don; siblings, Jerry (Joan), Ronnie (Bev), and Marilyn (Carl); granddaughter, Mary; and dog, Ziva.