Barbara Clow

Barbara Rae (Peterson) Clow died on July 25th, 2007 in the loving care of Villa Maria Nursing Center and Hospice Services staff, after a difficult struggle with a long-term illness. Her two sons, Tom and Scott and daughter-in-law, Tracy, were by her side at her time of death. Barbara’s life-long faith has brought her eternal life through our savior Jesus Christ. Barbara was born August 6th, 1935, in Lancaster, MN, and raised on her father’s farm in Northern Minnesota. She was Salutatorian in the Lancaster High School class of 1953, where she received the American Legion Award for leadership, honor, service and scholarship. On December 26th, 1953, Barbara married her high-school sweetheart, Jim Clow. Soon after their wedding, they located to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where Jim was serving in the U.S. Army. After completion of Jim’s Army duty in 1955, they moved to Fargo, ND. Barbara worked as a beautician until 1960, when her first son, Tom, was born. The birth of her second son, Scott, followed in 1962, and throughout most of that decade Barbara focused on mothering and managing a busy household. In 1969, Barbara returned to the workforce part time, including jobs as a Sales Representative for Avon Incorporated and a Public Relations Representative at the Fargo Forum. In 1979, Barbara began working in the banking industry, starting as a teller at Metropolitan Bank in Fargo, moving up to the role of Financial Representative, before leaving in 1994. Barb continued to work part time for both American Federal Bank and US Bank in Fargo, until deciding it was time to rest in 2006. Barbara had much to be proud of in her role as mother, spouse, grandmother, friend, community volunteer, and Christian. As a life member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, she was directly involved with fund raisers for Friendship Village, Hot Line, Frasier Hall, and Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, she supported the needy in our community. She also was an officer in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a Bible School teacher at First Lutheran Church in Fargo. In later years, Barbara and her husband, Jim, cherished quiet time together, social events and stewardship as life members of the El Zagel Shrine, and spending time with their five grandchildren. The death of Jim, in 2002, left a deep void in Barbara’s life, one from which she never really recovered. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, George and Orphie Peterson; an infant sister, (unnamed); and her husband, Jim. Barbara is survived by her sons, Tom (Tracy), Fargo, ND, and Scott (Becky), Federal Way, WA; sister, Beverly, Appleton, MN; brothers, Gary (Marge), Lancaster, MN, and Ken (Barb), Lancaster, MN; and grandchildren, Ivan and Anders, Fargo ND, and Noah, Sarah, and Nathanael, Federal Way, WA. The funeral will be held at 3:00 pm, on Wednesday, August 1st, at First Lutheran Church in Fargo. Family and friends are welcome to gather the prior evening, Tuesday, July 31st, from 4:00 to 6:00pm at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home in celebration and remembrance of Barbara. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation is preferred to the MeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center, MeritCare Foundation, P.O. Box MC, Fargo, ND, 58122-0302.