Daniel Albert Barberree

To view his funeral service: https://vimeo.com/event/4021437

Dan grew up in snowy, beautiful Minneapolis, MN and was a faithful church member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Edina. Throughout his youth, he loved track & field events, tennis, canoeing, and all winter sports. As a the son of a pharmacist, Dan had a job running prescriptions to homes, and working the soda fountain at his parent’s Kenwood pharmacy.

Dan graduated from West High School, and then the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. He met his wife Carol in his church, married, and moved to Ames Iowa (had a daughter) and received a Doctorate Degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1968.

A DuPont job offer brought them to Wilmington Delaware (where his sons were born) then Orange Texas. Dan was a scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur and retired from a 30-year career with DuPont. Dan owned and operated several businesses in Orange and Kingwood during and after his Dupont career.

He met his 2nd wife, Betsy Wilson, back in Wilmington Delaware in 1970. Their two families were neighbors, long-time friends, and church members together in Orange, Texas for many years, and they later married in 1989. With a new start, and a new house in Kingwood, he and Betsy became very active members of Kingwood Methodist Church. They were long standing members of the choir, Sunday school and countless volunteer groups. He was an engaged member of the Kingwood Tea Party and supported numerous organizations dedicated to protecting his faith, freedom, and country. Dan was a man of deep faith and a beloved and selfless caregiver to his mom, and his Betsy.

Dan had a passion for traveling, which started with his parents around the USA, his high school friend to backpack through Europe at 19, then paper-mapping his young family around America, his snow ski buddies each year, and later with his wife Betsy. They took driving trips to see the National Parks, camping sometimes in their Isuzu Rodeo SUV. They also took numerous cruises to see Hawaii, Europe, Norway, the Panama Canal, and even got to Israel. They enjoyed daily walks and hug stations through the woodsy Kingwood Greenbelts.

We’ve witnessed Dan enjoying the feat of understanding politics, concerns about our government, leadership of our country, and hoping to inspire the rest of us to understand more about it so we may take ACTION, even in a small way. Dan was bold to encourage his children, grandchildren, neighbors, and people in the community to be in church, or get back to church, most importantly go to the Lord for help in life.

And while he was a very good planner and organizer of all parts of life, he relied on God’s will and timing to guide him through struggles in life, even the very last few weeks, and hour. He lived his life as an example to the values and words he instilled in his children. Dan trusted God’s plan for him, for Betsy and his children’s lives.

He routinely said to “Always know your neighbors!” which he did well. A consistent motto in his life was to Stay calm. Don’t react. Think first. Speak carefully. Give people space and time. Let them know we love them every day. Ask the Lord to help with all things. Now Get To Work!

Dan has been called by God to heaven and will be missed by all of us until it is time to be called to meet him again. Dan is preceded in death by his parents; his wife’s parents; and his first wife Carol Fuhs Lerum.

Daniel is survived by his wife, Betsy Stad Barberree; Dan’s 5 children, daughter Joel Smith (husband Kelly), son David Barberree (wife Stephanie), son Dean Barberree (wife Tisha), daughter Cindy Adamo (husband Johnny), and son Jeff Wilson (Vicki Wilson); 13 grandchildren, Andrew, Spencer, Makena, Carly, Mason, Megan, Madison, Maddox (all Barberrees), Addison & Kennedy Smith, Jacob & Victoria Adamo, Jordan & Blake Carlson, Caroline & Steve Stadvahl; and his brother, David Leonard Barberree. He was a proud family man and made it a priority to have an active and personal relationship with all his family members. He always made the effort, found the means, and made the time to bring them together.

A special thanks to: The Kingwood Methodist church for music talent and refreshments this week. His neighbors who kept an eye on him and Betsy. His men’s group of friends on Thursday KNIGHTS. His dear friends in life, on the ski slopes, in Sunday school, church, and choirs. His faithful friends and caregivers of Betsy the last several years and weeks.

Dan will be laid to rest at Brookside Cemetery, near Kingwood Texas. If you so choose to honor Dan’s legacy with a gift, in lieu of flowers or other such items, Dan requests that donations to be made to the Kingwood Methodist Church (https://kingwoodmethodist.org/give/) or the Kingwood Tea party in his honor. (https://www.kingwoodteaparty.com/donate/).