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In Memory

Barbara Perkins (Bissegger Freeman) - Class of 1937

Barbara Freeman passed away November 8, 2014, in Montpelier. Barbara was born in Preston, Idaho on July 17, 1919, the fourth of 12 children, to Marion and Naomi (Wilcox) Perkins. She’ was raised in Montpelier and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1937. She married her high school sweetheart, Rex Bissegger, on May 25, 1939 in Paris. Then on June 6, 1940, their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Born to this union were Jerry Perkins (1941), Johnny Rex (1944), Kevin D. (1951), and Jan (1953). Rex and Barbara made their home in Montpelier. Rex worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and in 1944 was drafted and sent to Europe with the 3rd Army where he served his country until the end of the war. On June 27, 1954 Rex was killed in an automobile accident, leaving Barbara to raise their four children. She first took a job with Clair Barrett Insurance as the Western Union clerk, later went to work for the ASCS office, and eventually owned her own baby clothes shop.In 1962 she married Clyde Freeman, who passed away in 1979.

Barbara was active in the LDS Church all her life, and answered many callings, including serving as the stake librarian, serving a stake mission, and being active as a relief society teacher for many years.
Barbara was always independent and full of life. She was forever on a quest to improve herself: body, mind, and soul. She was always physically active; she loved gymnastics when she was young and in her later years; she walked for an hour every day. After she retired, Barbara read incessantly; she really wanted to learn and often read difficult non-fiction texts. She memorized poetry to keep her mind sharp and often quizzed John about history. Barbara always wanted to be up to date with technology and was recently teaching herself to use an iPad. She was an avid bridge player, a loyal attendee at Senior Citizens on Fridays, and a good friend-she always had a full social calendar. She engaged in many hobbies, such as collecting dolls, hummels, and coins. She was wonderful at crochet and knitting. She also loved to travel and had the opportunity to visit locations all over the United States and several countries in Europe.

Barbara was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her, young and old. Her strong faith, her generosity, her work ethic, and her intelligence were admired by many. Besides being in exemplary church member , she faithfully kept up her home and yard, took care of herself, and helped many with financial management.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rex Bissegger; her second husband, Clyde Freeman; her son, Kevin Bissegger; her parents; and nine siblings.

She is survived by her children: Jerry (Diane) Bissegger of Temecula, CA, John (Marilyn) Bissegger of Montpelier, and Jan (Kim) Sellers of Rexburg; a daughter-in-law, Teresa Bissegger of Orem; 12 grandchildren: Marlo Caddel, Brooke Silvas, Lacy Kassuhn, Tabetha Bissegger, Mandy Aldous, Nicole
Bissegger, Summer Bissegger, Travis Sellers, Erin Strange, Derin Briggs, Brad Bissegger, and Macy Sellers; 30 great grandchildren; and siblings: Joyce (Doug) Smith of Roy, UT, and Maureen (Neil) Wold of Mesquite, NV; a sister-in-law, Dolores Strobel of Layton, UT; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral, under the direction of Schwab-Matthews Mortuary, will be held Saturday, November 15, at noon at the Montpelier 1st/4th Ward Church. A viewing will be held that morning from 9:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
Interment will be in the Montpelier Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Bear Lake Memorial Hospital.