Obituary of Sharon Newby DeBarber

N. Sharon Newby DeBarber, 80, of St. Paul, MN

A memorial mass is being held for Sharon DeBarber on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Lyngblomsten Care Home 1415 Almond Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108.

On Wednesday, June 1, 2022 Sharon DeBarber, loving wife, mom and grandma passed away suddenly at the age of 80.

She was born on October 24, 1941 in Grangeville, Idaho to Alvis Oliver and Anna M. (Mason) Newby. Sharon was the middle child of her family of 13 children. She attended Grangeville public schools before moving to Washington state to live with her sister Juanita Jean Newby Spencer. After graduating from high school, Sharon went to work for the Nez Perce National Forest Service district office as a clerk.

It was there, in 1963, that she met John Patrick DeBarber. The two were married on May 23, 1964 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Grangeville, Idaho. Her husband John continued to work for the Forest Service until his retirement in 1994. The couple eventually settled in Hamilton, MT in 1974 where they raised their children and resided until December 2011.

Sharon joined her husband John, in the Catholic Faith in 1966 and remained a faith filled catholic until her death. Sharon taught Catechism classes at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for over 20 years. Eventually, she went on to assist in the parish office, on occasion, as the parish secretary.

Sharon was an intelligent and talented woman. Sharon had a keen business sense. She kept the family household accounts and always balanced her check book to the penny. She excelled at making the family income stretch. There never was a problem that she couldn’t solve.

She also really enjoyed being creative. Sharon took up sewing and quilt making in high school and these activities became a life-long hobbies. She particularly enjoyed making quilts for her

grandchildren. Sharon loved playing Bingo, solving Circle-A-Word puzzles and later in life playing Solitaire on her Ipad.

There was nothing Sharon loved more than spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family. She loved keeping up with all the news and activities about her grandchildren and particularly enjoyed seeing pictures of their accomplishments. Sharon was never happier than when she got to spend time with her grandchildren.

Sharon is survived by her children son, John, his wife, Diana and children Jeanne and John of Spokane, WA; daughter Chelle York, her husband Bob and daughter Emily of Minnetonka, MN; son Patrick, his wife Kimberely and children Collin, Brendan and Ryan of Endfield, CT; daughter Theresa King, her husband Dan and children David, Kaylie and Adam of Roseville, MN and son Jason, his wife Andrea and children Cora, Maddie and Issie of Vancouver, WA. She is also survived her sisters Patricia Salmeier of Meridian, ID; Nancy Cline of Grangeville, ID and her brother Marvin Newby of Fort Collins, CO.

Sharon was proceeded in death by her beloved husband John, her parents and 9 siblings.