Barbara A. Spink (formerly Swenson)

Barbara Ann (nee Kittleson) Spink, formerly known as Barbara Swenson, age 88, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023.  She was born on May 15, 1935 in Stoughton to Gerhard and Ruth (Simonson) Kittleson.  She grew up in the Stoughton area and lived in Madison, Oregon, and McFarland the last 20 years of her life.  

Barb married Dean Swenson on June 19, 1954.  Together, they raised four wonderful children, and she enjoyed working at Anchor Bank and Ceramic Arts Studios in Madison.  Dean preceded her in death, Barb found love again and married Kenneth Spink on September 9, 1989. 

As Barb raised her family, she indulged in her many interests which included fishing with her grandchildren, camping, traveling, visiting friends & family, painting ceramics (especially Norwegian trolls), sewing; stuffed animals and quilts, and baking…particularly wedding cakes! 

Barb’s innate talent for baking brought her to creating wedding cakes.  She was always baking for someone, and she even baked her own wedding cake for her marriage to Ken.

Barb is survived by three of her children: Debra Ann (Swenson/Huston) Franklin (Brian), Cynthia Renee (Swenson) Spink (Chris), and Jason Wayne Swenson (Tricia); six grandchildren: Lindsay (Huston) Clements, Melissa Huston, Jamie (Spink) Glaser, John Spink, Jacob Swenson, and Lucy Swenson; great-grandchildren: Abbey, Madison, Heidi, Violet, Kayla, Joslyn, Jordan, and Elizabeth; great-great-grandson Jackson; son in law Fred Printiss; niece Sandra (Fosdal) Yates; and many other relatives and dear friends.

Barb was preceded in death by her first husband Dean C. Swenson; second husband Kenneth D. Spink; daughter Diana Lynn (Swenson) Printiss; son in law Dennis James Huston; parents Gerhard and Ruth Kittleson; siblings: Gerald Kittleson, Norman Kittleson, and Gloria (Kittleson) Fosdal; brother-in-law Wayne Fosdal and niece Cheryl Fosdal.

The family would like to express many thanks to Agrace Hospice and to Kettle Park Memory Care for the kind and caring treatment of Barb.