Barbara McDaniel

Barbara Jean Barnum was born in Crawford, Nebraska, on August 27, 1940, to Martha Mae (Bowman) and Ralph Edward Barnum. She passed away on February 17, 2026, at Chadron Community Hospital.

Left to mourn her passing are her brother, John Barnum of Chadron; daughters Cathy Welsh (Joe Zeman) of Warrensburg, MO; Chris Fankhauser of Arcadia, FL; grandchildren Brady Abbott, Michaela Nixon (Weston Smith) and Zach Fankhauser of Chadron, and Travis Fankhauser of West Palm Beach, FL; and great grandchildren Claire and Ryder Smith of Chadron, as well as many cousins. She also leaves behind her beloved dog and favorite child, Rex, and grand doggies Harley and Duke.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alfred E. Blinde Scholarship Fund at Chadron State College or the Museum of the Fur Trade.