Barbara Galen Stewart

Died December 31, 2020 of COVID-19 in Peoria, AZ

Born in Helena, MT on December 15, 1929 to Catherine and James Galen

Despite having lived in many cities during her life, Barbara was a Montana girl through and through. Her elementary school education was in a one-room school in Wolf Creek, Montana with two classmates. (She was the entire top third of her class.) While there she was part of the Wolf Creek marching harmonica band. The family subsequently moved to Missoula, where she attended Missoula High School. Barbara began her college education at Mount Saint Mary’s, an all-women’s college in Los Angeles, but transferred to the University of Montana and graduated from there in 1951 with a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in history and political science. While at the University of Montana she joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, an organization that remained dear to her for the rest of her life.

Barbara and Gordon Stewart were married on August 16, 1953. Their love only deepened over the next 67 years. Together they were best friends, traveling companions, parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and partners. On their first anniversary, Gordon presented her with an award plaque declaring Barbara to be a “real champ.” (He was romantic that way.) And she was. Together they raised three sons. Barbara selflessly shouldered the burdens of managing the household. She was a genius at stretching the family budget and she loved a bargain. (If she purchased a gift on sale, the recipient of the gift was sure to be told what kind of deal she got on it.) As a mother, she was very involved, always ready to volunteer or serve as Den Mother. She was a good cook of wholesome meals and knew to avoid recipes that incorporated ingredients that contained her husband’s food “allergies,” especially Harvard beets and Parmesan cheese. And no one has ever baked a better peach pie. Barbara was always well-turned-out. She was the usually competent navigator on family car trips. She could hang wallpaper in even the most difficult spaces. She played the piano beautifully. Barbara would often crack herself up when telling a joke, usually before being able to say the punch line. She could be gullible; and her sons often took advantage of her trusting nature, but only in jest. The biggest profanity one might hear her utter was “hell’s bells!” More than anything, Barbara Stewart was a connector. If introduced to someone with a family name she recognized, she often figured out how she already knew that person’s uncle or cousin. After retiring from her job at American Express, Barbara and Gordon became inveterate travelers. They traveled the world together, taking at least one major trip every year, and made friends on every trip. They traveled to be with their children and grandchildren whenever they could, but they wanted to be sure they would not overstay their welcome. And no matter where she was, Barbara loved to brag about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her love for them could not be contained. Throughout this eventful life, she remained a devout Catholic; though her Presbyterian husband never fully understood her fidelity to that denomination. But together they built a life that was a paragon of Christian matrimony.

Preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Albert J. Galen. Survived by loving husband Gordon D. Stewart, Jr., her sons Duff (Kathy), Jim (Kim) and Bob (Sheilah), grandchildren Gordon D. Stewart IV (Lisa), Garon Stewart (Jenifer), Emma Stewart, Carolyn Stewart, Matt Stewart, Grace Stewart, Leah Stewart and Scott Stewart, plus bonus granddaughters Megan O’Donohue Weber (Ryan) and Erin O’Donohue Hesselbacher, great grandchildren Avaleena Stewart, Declan Stewart and Evelyn Stewart, Morgan Hesselbacher, Macie Weber and Reese Weber, sister Ruth Worden and many nieces and nephews in the Galen, Devney and Stewart families.

Remembrances as contributions in Barbara's name may be made to the Kappa Kappa Foundation’s Annual Loyalty Fund at the following web address:

https://donate.kappakappagamma.org/CSiDonate/Give.aspx/59FF0F7E#c.

Private memorial services for the family will take place this summer.