Barb Frey

Barbara Juhala Frey died May 19, 2023 at St. Alexius Hospital. Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 27 at Bismarck Baptist Church, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck.

Barbara Jean Juhala Frey was born October 20, 1943 in Fargo, ND, first daughter of Alfred and Lucille (Josephson) Juhala. Barb grew up in Bismarck, graduating from Bismarck High School in 1961. Barb started her higher education pursuit at Bismarck State College, transferring to Dickinson State College in the fall of 1963. She met the love of her life Jim Frey at college. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in May 1965. Barb returned to Bismarck to start her teaching career. Barb and Jim were married June 18, 1966. Barb taught at Northridge Elementary for 5 years before populating the earth with three smart and independent daughters - Lara, Sara, and Kara. After 9 years of homemaking, she started teaching again at Shiloh Christian School. After one year at Shiloh and a year of substitute teaching, Barb started teaching at Theodore Jamerson Elementary School at United Tribes Technical College. Barb always said she found her calling teaching at TJES. She loved her 24 years of  teaching there. She made life-long friends with her fellow teachers and colleagues. 

Barb was a life-long, avid reader until dementia took over her mental capacity.  Her love of books led her to work part-time at the Dickinson Public Library while she was in college. After settling in Bismarck, she became interested in ceramics at Harriet Bryant’s ceramic shop.  She created many colorful items which became Christmas gifts for friends and relatives. Among her favorites were mini Christmas trees with colorful lights, and her biggest accomplishment was a beautiful nativity set which the girls loved playing with.

Barb liked to travel. In her younger years, she and her husband traveled around the country. She took an epic trip to Japan. In retirement, she went on cruises with sisters and lengthy road trips through the Western United States.

Sewing was another passion as she often sewed matching dresses for her daughters when they were little. She created many cloth napkins and tablecloths, not only for herself, but took orders from friends. Barb also found time to be the church librarian for a while, served on the decorating committee, and helped develop a puppetry ministry for the youth in church.

In her retirement years, she enjoyed a weekly coffee session with the neighborhood ladies, and a monthly luncheon with her TJES colleagues.

Barb is survived by her husband Jim of 56 years, 11 months and 29 days; her first-born daughter Lara Ann, her husband Julius Amicho and her precious gift from God grandson Ian, Denver, CO; her middle-born and Christmas-present daughter Sara Lynne, Denver, CO; and her last and blizzard-born daughter Kara Rae, Minneapolis, MN; her sisters and their spouses: Karen and Tom Hanson, Riverview, Florida, Judy Juhala and Joanne King, Champaign, Illinois; her sister-in-law Linda Juhala; her brother- and sister-in-law Howard and Darlene Siewart, Richardton, ND; her sister-in-law Doris Rolek, Apple Valley, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Lucille and her beloved brother Curtis Juhala. Those wishing to honor Barb with a memorial may send it to Theodore Jamerson Elementary School at United Tribes Technical College in care of Jessie Talley.