Barbara Caroline Beardsley

MISSOULA ~ Barbara Caroline Beardsley, 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 16, 2026 surrounded by the love of her family.

Barb was born April 24, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Loren and Caroline (Schmidt) Wood. She grew up in North Minneapolis and graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1957. Following high school, Barbara began working at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator before becoming a financial teller in the company’s Minneapolis business office.

On February 20, 1960, she married Richard Walker. Together they raised four children and over the years lived in Ashland and Corvallis, Oregon, Custer, South Dakota and eventually Missoula, Montana. In Missoula Barb began a new chapter in her life when she married Wendell Beardsley on October 26, 1979. They shared 47 years together with family, friends and enjoying foreign travel adventures.

Barb worked as a teller at several financial institutions in Missoula as well as House of Fabrics, but she found her greatest joys outside of work. She had an amazing talent for sewing and took great pride in her creations, including beautiful quilts she made for her family. She loved her family and delighted in spoiling her grandchildren. Barb also had a love of travel and was fortunate to see much of the world, with adventures taking her and Wen from Asia to Europe and in between.

She is survived by her husband, Wendell Beardsley; her children, David (Sandra) Walker, Deanne (Bob) Kulakowski, Dianne (Phil) Babas and Dawn (Gregg) Walker; her stepchildren, Kris (Sidra) Beardsley and Sean Beardsley; her brother, Craig Wood; her sister, Lorna Kology; 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Barb will be remembered for her love of family and friends, her creativity, sense of adventure, and the many memories she created with those she loved. A celebration of her life with family and friends will be planned at a time to be determined.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.