In Memory ~ Barbara Boness

 In Memory ~ Barbara Boness Jesperson

Barbara passed away on June 1st, 2024.  She was born January 4, 1943.

BARBARA'S OBITUARY

Barbara Joan Jespersen, age 81, of Alliance, Nebraska passed away Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Highland Park Care Center, Alliance, Nebraska. 

Barbara was born January 4, 1943 in Alliance, Nebraska to Allen Boness and Rosezella (Roebuck) Boness. Barb grew up in Alliance, Nebraska with her older brothers Don, and Jerry, and her younger brother Greg. She graduated from Alliance High School, Class of 1961. Barb obtained her Cosmetology license after attending Beauty College in Scottsbluff. Duane took her to Lincoln to set for her boards. She always stated and just recently before her illness when she would meet someone new or even old acquaintances "This is my story and I'm sticking to it" I have had my Cosmetology License for 63 years and never practiced and decided to become the hired hand on the farm and raise a family. 

On August 19, 1962, Barbara Boness was united in marriage to Duane Jespersen at Saint John's United Lutheran Church, ELCA, in Alliance, Nebraska and blessed to have been married 58 years upon Duane's passing in 2021. She was a member of the St. John's United Lutheran 
Church, Alliance, Nebraska, and Victory Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona. They began their married life living in the house built in 1906 by Duane's grandfather, Jesper Jespersen, on the Lone Tree Ranch homestead southwest of Hemingford where they farmed, raised cattle, and later added pigs to their farm operation. In 1976 they built a larger home on the same place to raise their family. To this union six children were born Dawn, Dana, Danette, Darin born August 24, 1972 and died at four days, Darby, and Derrick. 

In 2000 Duane and Barb began going to Mesa, Arizona for the winter months where they enjoyed the 'Valley of the Sun', and later moved to Mesa. In 2008 they retired from farming, and then would return from Mesa every summer to help their sons with the farm work, attended the 
grandchildren's school activities, and visited with family and friends. Barb would do field work for many years after retirement and operated the grain cart while Duane harvested com. Barb had a wonderful voice and sang with her whole heart in church every Sunday and also weddings and funerals. 

Those left to cherish and honor Barbara's memory are her five children and their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Dawn and Will Fiscus, Cheyenne, Wyoming; children, Jessica Fiscus, Cheyenne, Wyoming, children Dameon Fiscus and Fionna Seid at home; Justin Fiscus and Breanne Ramirez, Torrington, Wyoming. Dana Jespersen, Alliance, Nebraska; son, Brennan Jespersen, Alliance, Nebraska. Danette and Henry Holguin, Gilbert, Arizona; her children Danae Hefty, Chandler, Arizona, Devin Hefty and Draysen Hefty, Gilbert, Arizona. Darby and Autumn Jespersen, Hemingford, Nebraska; children, Tarin Jespersen, Hemingford, Nebraska; Kage Jespersen, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Storm Jespersen and GeoffToler(Fiance) Hemingford, Nebraska. Derrick and Cassie Jespersen, Hemingford, Nebraska; children, Rayne, Kyra, and Rye Jespersen at home. Barb's brothers Don Boness of Denver Colorado, Greg and Selina Boness of Custer, South Dakota. Duane's sister and brother-in-law, Devona and George Tschacher, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Also, many nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Barb was preceded in death by her husband Duane Jespersen, their infant son, Darin Jesper Jespersen, grandson Dayne Jakob Hefty at 19 months, and born still granddaughter Jennica Mariah Jespersen, her parents, Allen Boness and Rosezella (Boness) Langmacher, brother Jerry Boness, and sister-in-law Twila Boness. Duane's parents, Elvin 'Pat' and Mabel (Jordan) Jespersen, brother-in-law Darwin Jespersen, sister-in-law Shirley Jespersen, and sister-in-law Carol Jespersen. 

Funeral services will be Friday, June 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Saint John's United Lutheran Church, Alliance, Nebraska. Inurnment will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Cards may be mailed to Barbara Jespersen family, in care of Dana Jespersen, 807 Dakota Avenue, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301 for a memorial to be named at a later date.

Below is the information printed in our 50th class reunion booklet:

Boness, Barbara

Spouse ~ Duane Jespersen

Summer ~ 1600 CR 74

Hemingford, NE 69348;

Winter ~ 5028 E Flossmoor

Mesa AZ 85206

308-487-5263, cell 308-760-1669

barbjes@q.com

C ~ Six (five living ~ one died, four days old)

G ~ Eleven          G^{2 ~} One

kindergarten picture

After graduation form AHS in 1961, I went right into beauty school.  I received my Cosmetology license in May, 1962.  I married Duane Jespersen of Hemingford, NE, in August of 1962.  To this union, six children were born, ranging in age from 35 to 48.  Immediately after marriage, Duane and I went in to the farming game, on a farm south west of Hemingford.  The farm that we bought was a homestead that was previously owned by Duane’s grandparents.  In 2007 the homestead had been in the family for 100years.  Duane’s grandparents lived on it for 49 years, and Duane and I lived on it for 48 years.  It set idle for three years.  We have now passed it on to our youngest son.  Hope it stays in the family for another 100 years.

During the 48 years that we farmed, I was Duane’s right-hand man.  Whatever needed done we did together.  In 1987-1989, I went into Alliance and worked for Woolrich as a supervisor in the small parts division.  In 1989, Duane had major heart surgery with six bypasses, so I came back home to hellp full time again.  He recovered well and we kept farming until August of 2008.

We started trying the snowbird crowd in 2000 when we bought a park model in Mesa, AZ.  We farmed in the summer, and wintered in AZ in the winter months.  Then in 2002 we decided that if we were going to keep doing this we had better buy a house.  So, in February of 2002, we bought a house, also in Mesa.  Then in August of 2008, we had an auction and retired.  We sold the farm to the two youngest boys.  We still come back to Nebraska and help the boys farm, and help with harvest in the summer.  We are not sure how long we will do this.  Our future plans are to live in “Beautiful Arizona” full time.