John LaBarr

The family will be hosting a celebration of John’s life on Thursday June 6, 2024, 4-6:30pm at Cherry’s Bittersweet Lodge at Summit.

John LeRoy LaBarr was born on June 25, 1943, to Leo and Caroline (Wieger) LaBarr at Waubay, South Dakota. He attended country school near the family farm and went on to Waubay High School, graduating in 1961. After his education, he farmed with his family on the LaBarr family homestead.

On April 14, 1978, he married Betty Pederson-Johnson at Summit. The couple made their home near Ortley and John continued to farm and operated some side businesses including upholstering and collecting and selling antiques. In 1991, the couple purchased a historic house in Webster where they expanded their antique business. In 2013, John and Betty moved to Garden City where they resided until 2020, when John needed more care and went into a nursing home.

John was a member of the United Methodist Church in Garden City. Some of his favorite pastimes were fishing, collecting antiques, recycling, and tinkering in his garage. He also enjoyed playing cards, board games, watching westerns, listening to country music, and collecting coins. John was a man of strong faith. He enjoyed visiting with others and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

John will be greatly missed by his wife Betty of Webster, SD, stepsons, James (Char Eliason) Johnson of Milbank, SD, Ron Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD, stepdaughter Beth Romfo of Langdon, ND, 6 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. He is also survived by three sisters, Julia Rohlfing, Helen Kluntz, and Anita LaBarr all of Cleveland, MN, two sisters-in-law Debbie LaBarr of Osseola, WI and Sarah Pederson of Isanti, MN, and one brother-in-law Bill (Meg) Pederson of Webster, SD, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a grandson Corey Johnson, three brothers, George, Donald, and Ralph (Judy) LaBarr, as well as a sister Katherine (Tom) Lee, 5 brothers-in-law, Bill Rohlfing, Robert Luntz, Alvin Pederson, Mickey Pederson, Gerald (Joyce) Pederson, and a sister-in-law Norma Pederson.