Biensen, Barbara
Barbara Ann Biensen, 95, much loved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother died Tuesday March 3, 2015 of natural causes in State Center, Iowa. She was born in Ames, Iowa July 22, 1919 to Orie and Carrie (Ballard) Ryan. Barbara attended Shipley schools, later graduating from Omaha Tech in Omaha NE. She was on the synchronized swimming team there and championed her favorite stroke, the backstroke. Visitation will be held Monday, March 9th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada. Services will be held Tuesday, March 10th at 10:30 a.m. at the First Prebyterian Church in State Center.
While working at the Iowa State University Library she met the love of her life George Biensen at a dance in the Memorial Union. They were married August 10, 1941 in Ames Iowa and settled on the family farm in rural State Center. Barbara and George were married 69 years and had four children: Mike (Elma) Grand Prairie TX; Barbara Jo Rothfuss (David) Columbia SC; Rodney (Tricia) Nevada IA; and Kelly (Nina) State Center IA. The children were the light of Barbara’s life.
Barbara loved living in the country in the farm house. She loved being a mother and raising a family. She and George loved each other so much and they loved their family. They saw a lot of things in the same light. She was a dedicated gardener, growing flowers wherever she lived. She was a hard worker raising chickens and doing lots of work on the farm. Barbara was musically inclined and passed her love of music down to her children. She was a 50-year member of Eastern Star and achieved local Worthy Matron status. Barbara, known for hosting elegant meetings, was also a charter member of LBOE (Little Bit of Everything) and the Margaret Stoddard Study Club. She was a 75-year member of First Presbyterian Church of State Center and a member the Presbyters, a married couples group within the church. Barbara was well known for baking delicious desserts including her famous brownies. They were successfully sold at fundraisers. She also loved to bake gingerbread cookies for treats to serve children as they visited her door on Halloween. Also, she worked for a period of time at the District Media Center in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Barbara is survived by her four children and their spouses; grandchildren Alison (Ted) Klein Columbia SC; Paige (Dan) Bryars Marietta GA; Candace (Sean) Wagner Hollywood FL: Meredith (Brian) Bilbro Columbia SC; Ryan Biensen Marshalltown IA; Brandon Biensen Rhodes IA; Leah, Caleb and Luke Biensen Nevada IA; Juan Gomez, Rene Gomez, Val (Maria) Flores and numerous great grand children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister (Orley), her brother (Les), her husband George and her best friend Betty Dobbin.