Verlie Barnhart

Verlie Irene "Lee" Barnhart, 86, a longtime resident of Detroit Lakes, MN, died on Monday, April 3, 2017 at Essentia-Oak Crossing. Visitation will be held at the David-Donehower Funeral Home on Friday, April 14 from 5 to 7 pm, with a prayer service that evening at 5:30 pm. Services for Lee will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Callaway, MN at 11 am on Saturday, April 15. Lee Barnhart was born January 22, 1931 in Dubuque, Iowa to Ruben and Julia Goodman. She grew up in the Midwest and California, and married Arnold E. "Barney" Barnhart on September 26, 1952 in Minneapolis, MN. During their early married life, the couple and their family lived in several Midwestern states due to Barney's construction work. After purchasing the old Buffalo Lake Tavern, Lee and her family moved from Illinois to the Detroit Lakes, MN area in April 1967. Barney and Lee owned and operated the Buffalo Lake Tavern & Campground for almost ten years. And if the Tavern wasn't enough work, they also purchased a farm in the spring of 1973 and raised cattle, along with alfalfa and small grains. Lee was a hard worker her entire life until Alzheimer's robbed her of the ability to do the many things she loved. She loved to garden, cook for others, paint, visit with people, snowmobile, dance, get her hair done every Saturday, and stay in touch with her many friends. Lee was spunky and occasionally opinionated, but she would be the first to help anyone in need and often helped even those who had been unkind to her. Lee was very patient and saw the best in others, not only with her family and friends, but also with some, shall we say, eccentric and/or unruly customers at the Tavern. Lee was involved in different ladies groups at the Lutheran Churches she attended and never missed her children's school or church programs. Lee was fiercely loyal to her family and friends, and she always stood up for those she felt were being left out or mistreated. Lee is survived by her husband of 65 years, Arnold E. "Barney" Barnhart of Detroit Lakes, MN; daughter, Debbie "Barnie" Burnside (Gil Montoya, close family friend) of Rye, CO; granddaughter, Amy Burnside of San Diego, CA; grandson, Zach Burnside and great-granddaughter, Mazie Coy of Denver, CO; son, David Barnhart (Terry) of Belgrade, MT; grandson, Jonathan Barnhart (Kaysie) and great-granddaughter, Jacqueline of Richey, MT; grandson, Micah Barnhart (Rachael) of Moscow, Idaho; granddaughter, Kathryn G. "Kate" Barnhart of Denver, CO; the "other" daughter, Rita Haverkamp (Dennis) of Detroit Lakes, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Lee was preceded in death by her father, Ruben Goodman; mother, Julia Goodman; son, Carl R. Barnhart; brother, Leo Goodman; and sister-in-law, Ethel Goodman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Red River Valley Hospice or the Chaplaincy Ministry of Essentia-Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes.













































To mom and dad's friends; to Sheryl, Jane, and Kendall who cared for mom at Golden Manor; and to all the folks at Oak Crossing and Lincoln Park, our entire family says "THANK YOU!" for your loving care of mom and the many kindnesses you showed our entire family -- especially our dad -- over the years. God Bless each and everyone one of you!

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, April 14, 2017
Service
Saturday, April 15, 2017

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