Barbara Vigdis (Carlson) Almquist, of Moose Lake, died July 17, 2010 in Mercy Hospital, Moose Lake surrounded by her family.

Barb was born at home on the family farm on November 23, 1936 in Moose Lake, MN. She had happy memories of farm life and the hard work that went along with it, including driving the tractor, picking rocks, and shocking oats. As a child, she loved paper dolls and reading books under the bedcovers. She graduated from Moose Lake High School and went to North Park College in Chicago for one year. She married James Almquist on March 29, 1958 at the Moose Lake Covenant Church. They lived in Minneapolis for a short time before returning to Moose Lake, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Barb worked at the Moose Lake State Hospital, the Moose Lake Water & Light Commission, in the family business – Jim's Floor Covering and Furniture, and at The Human Development Center in Cloquet. She loved being a mom and grandma and passed on many bits of wisdom over the years. Barb enjoyed reading (with a fondness for biographies), photography, travel, and quilting. She was a long time member of the Covenant Quilters, and family, friends, and charities were recipients of her beautiful work. Barb was a lifelong member of the Moose Lake Covenant Church, and her Christian faith sustained her throughout her life.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her sister Rachel and her grandson Dustin.

She will be lovingly remembered by her four children: Douglas (Shirley) of Rock Springs, WY; Sandra (Ann Rubin) of Minneapolis; Kathleen (Peter) Macek of Kansas City; Jeffrey (Barbara McCraven) of Memphis, TN; siblings Roger (Barbara) Carlson of Moose Lake; Dwight (Carol) Carlson of Guilford, CT; Charlotte Carlson of Minneapolis; a brother-in-law David Wood of Rockford, IL; grandchildren Joshua, Heather, Jodi, Brittany, and Krissy; 5 great-grandchildren; and many cherished friends.

Special thanks to all who helped care for Barb in her final days, both at home and at Mercy Hospital. She was comforted by your presence and grateful for your assistance.

Visitation did take place Tuesday, July 20 from 6 – 8 pm at Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake and continued Wednesday, July 21 from 10 AM until the 11 AM Service in the Evangelical Covenant Church, Moose Lake. Interment was in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Moose Lake. To sign the guestbook online, go to: www.hhkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.