Barbara Durfee

Funeral services for Barbara Durfee were held on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Berean Fundamental Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Scott McClellen officiating.

Music was provided by Janeen Hlavka, pianist. Barb Fenenga was in charge of registration and flower attendants were Gay Lynn Barry and Alice Miner.

Casket bearers were Dillon Fenenga, Tye Fenenga, Keith Fenenga, Jarret Sengelmann, Shad Ericksen and Bryce Fuchs.

Interment was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Ann Durfee was born on June 30, 1954, to Mildred (Graham) and Omer Durfee in Gregory, SD. She graduated from Gregory High School in 1972, then attended Dakota Wesleyan University for music education and received a bachelors degree. She married Carlos (David) Urrutia in 1974. With this union Barb and Dave brought up three daughters Heidi, Macy and Brenna and two sons Patrick and Casey. They divorced in 1990. She then married Bill McAbee in 1993. With this union they brought Chelsea and Gage into the family.

Over the years, she taught music at Burke, Gregory, Dupree, Spencer, Wessington, Geddes, and St. Francis. Besides teaching, she enjoyed fishing, camping, sewing, being involved with the church, attending her grandkid’s many activities, and all types of music. She enjoyed researching her family heritage and history and sharing her findings. Ultimately, Barb enjoyed teaching students to use instruments by teaching individual lessons.

Barb Durfee, 67, of Gregory, SD, passed away at home on September 11, 2021.

Barb is survived by her children Heidi (Rob) Fenenga of Iona, SD, Patrick Urrutia of Gregory, SD, Macy (Geoff) Golden of Chester, SD, Brenna (Shad) Ericksen of Canistota, SD, Casey (Ashley) Urrutia of Salem, SD, Chelsea (Bryce) Fuchs of Mitchell, SD, and Gage (Chelsea) Durfee of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren Dillon, Tye, and Keith Fenenga, Jarret Sengelmann, Addeline and Rachael Ericksen, Hoyt and Evelyn Urrutia, Liam Fuchs, Hayden and William Durfee; siblings Lynn Zeller, Betty Durfee, and Omer (Bill) Durfee and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mildred and Omer Durfee; fathers of her children Carlos (David) Urrutia, Bill McAbee; brothers-in-law Ormal Zeller, David Monahan, and close friend Gayle Whitepipe.