Barbara Mengelkoch

Barbara Mengelkoch age 86 of Hamel, Minnesota passed away peacefully on July 18, 2025. She was born April 9, 1939, to parents Kermit and Jeanne (Lucier) Nielsen in Loretto, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, John; children Jerry, Brad, Joel, and Jean (Paul Marcum) Mengelkoch; grandchildren Brandi Klinkner, Zach, Tucker, and Tanner Mengelkoch; great grandchildren Sloan and Stella Klinkner; siblings Antoinette Dalbec, Sharon Hermann, Chuck (Joan) Nielsen, Kenny (Jackie) Nielsen, and Debi (Bruce Bjorklund) Nielsen; numerous nieces and nephews.

Barb loved traveling, camping, bowling, crocheting, reading, doing calligraphy, flower gardening, baking and hanging out with family.

One of her favorite trips with John was to Alaska. The trip included planes, trains, buses, and ships while traveling from home to Salt Lake City to Vancouver, where they caught a cruise ship up the inside passage of Alaska, back to Vancouver, then San Francisco and home. She enjoyed the scenery, food, and meeting all kinds of people. She never met a stranger, because she made friends wherever she went.

She also loved taking travel tours with lifelong friends Beverly Marschel, Darlene Bechtold, and LaVerne Torblaa. Some of those trips were “mystery tours” in which they did not know their destination until they were close to arrival.

Barb worked for over 40 years at the Farmers State Bank of Hamel, starting after her junior year of high school. She loved to interact with the customers and her coworkers.

Please join us in celebrating Barb at a visitation Wednesday, July 30th from 5-7 PM at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, 15800 37th Avenue North, Plymouth. The Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, July 31st at 11am at the Church of St. Anne in Hamel, 200 Hamel Road. Lunch will be served after the service.