Barbara Morseth

Barb Morseth died Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at CCM Health in Montevideo at the age of 92.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church in Montevideo with Pastor Sam Kautz officiating.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 20, 2026 from 5-7:00 PM at Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:30 PM.  There will also be visitation at the church for one hour before the service.

Barbara Ruth (Cairns) Morseth was born in a home in Appleton, MN on June 8, 1933 to Howard and Alevene (Cheney) Cairns. The oldest of five children she grew up on a farm and graduated from Appleton High School.

Barbara showed a love for music from an early age. She began taking piano lessons at the age of seven and loved to sing. Throughout her school years she was very active in musical activities and continued participating until graduation. She especially excelled in voice and had the ability to play by ear, often adding her own interpretation to the music—something that occasionally frustrated her music teachers, who preferred the pieces to be played exactly as written.

After graduation, she attended the University of Minnesota, working as a clerk typist to help cover her expenses. She later moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she lived for several years. When she returned to Minneapolis, she worked as a secretary to the manager of the large Dyckman Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. While living there, she joined the Minneapolis Symphony Choir to further develop her vocal skills and continue pursuing her love of music.

Barbara (Barb) married her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bob” Morseth, in 1953. Together they welcomed two sons, Daniel and Timothy. They began farming on the family farm where Barb continues to live today. During their 62 years of marriage, Bob and Barb remodeled the farmhouse several times, making it a place filled with family memories.

From 1962 to 1965, they moved to Melbourne, Florida, where Bob worked for an appliance company. After returning to Montevideo, Barb became an Avon Lady and also worked part-time for over 20 years as a bookkeeper for Ree Motors, while at the same time working for Great Plains Natural Gas.

Soon after their return, Bob started his own business, Bob’s Appliance Service, where Barb worked in the office for more than 40 years. Barb also pursued her love of music by attending Southwest State University in Marshall for a music course. In 1986 she began teaching piano lessons in her home, operating her own studio and sharing her love of music with students until 2019.

Barbara became deeply involved in music throughout her life. She sang for several years in a Barbershop Quartet and directed the Christian Community Chorus. Each year she also directed Easter musicals at Community Bible Church. In addition to directing and singing, Barbara shared her musical gifts by playing the piano and organ for many years. In her later years, she served as the pianist and organist at the United Methodist Church in Montevideo.

Barb was a long time member of Fiesta Flora Society, Minnesota Valley Concert Association, American College of Musicians and National Music Clubs.

In 1976 she had a strong experience spiritually, called “ Called Born Again” and began to study the Bible, becoming involved in all aspects of Christianity. She believed in praying for healing and deliverance for all people and many time would stop and do that whenever she might see someone she knew.

Barb was survived by her sons: Dan and Tim; grandson, Josh Mickels and wife Erin; 2 great-grandchildren Halle and Max; sister, Pat Shiroma; and sister-in-law, Sandra Cairns.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Robert; son, Noel Robert and son baby Morseth(still born); three brothers: John Cairns, David Cairns, and James ( ) Cairns; and brother-in-law, Warren Shiroma.