Barbara Jean Bigbee

Barbara Jean (Finley) Bigbee, age 72 of Rochester, MN, died on Sunday, September 18, 2016.The memorial service will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes in Rochester. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials are preferred to the family. She was born in Gaylord, MN Dec. 18, 1943, to Sidney and Audriae (Maas) Finley. Barbara was Valedictorian of the Gaylord HS Class of 1961. Barbara completed the RN program at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis in 1964. She later completed the BSN program, with honors, at Winona State University, while concurrently raising her two daughters. She worked as a nurse in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Red Wing and Rochester. She loved music, played piano and sang in church choirs throughout her life, including her many years as a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester. Barbara is survived by two daughters, Maureen (Gretchen) Ulbee of Minneapolis and Allison Bigbee of Arlington, VA; three loving grandchildren, Kieran, Sidney, and Jackson; ex-husband, Arnie Bigbee; brother, Bruce Finley; niece, Angela Brown; nephew, Scott Finley and aunt, Dolly Kawczynski. She was preceded in death by her parents, Audriae and Sid Finley of Gaylord and Bloomington, MN. Arrangements are with Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester MN, 55901. www.ranfranzandvinefh.com