Barbara Elsing

     Barbara Jean Elsing, 66, of Fulda, MN, passed away after a short battle with lung cancer, in her home surrounded by family, on November 11, 2020.  Barb was born on August 30, 1954 to Thomas and Mary Clark in Worthington, MN.  She was the fourth of five siblings and was raised on a farm in rural Dundee, MN and graduated from Fulda High School.  After graduating high school she attended Stewart's Beauty School in Sioux Falls, SD.  She started her beautician work in Fulda at The Neat Top Beauty shop before purchasing Stairway to Beauty in Worthington, MN in 1976.  She owned and operated Stairway to Beauty for 40 years.  Barb married the love of her life, Jim Elsing on June 23, 1979.  Barb also worked for Worthington Olson Park as a seasonal campground attendant for the last 15 years.  Both jobs were a labor of love.

     Barb loved visiting and socializing, traveling abroad, road trips throughout the United States, dancing, camping, volunteering in church and community, and spending time with family and her grandchildren. She was the life of the party and found so much joy in making herself, her family, and the world around her a more beautiful place.  

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas K. Clark and Mary M. (Balster) Clark; in-laws, John G. Elsing and Minnie (Reitsma) Elsing; sisters-in-law, Clarice Rutgers, Ellen Eide, Eunice  Ailts, and brother-in-law, Robert Ailts.

     Barb is survived by her husband, James G. Elsing of Fulda, MN; daughter, Jessica J. (Elsing) Hacker and her husband Nathan A. Hacker and their children, Andols, Clarence, and Bodhi Hacker of Canby, MN; son, Paul Elsing and his wife Meredith (Yue) Elsing of Brooklyn Park, MN; siblings, William J. Clark of Minneapolis, MN, Cynthia A. (Clark) Bonczek and Carol A. Clark both of Worthington, MN, and Steven K. Clark and his wife Catherine E. Clark of Sioux Falls, SD; in-laws, Richard Rutgers of Brewster, MN, Donald Eide of Webster, MN, Harold and Ruth Dykstra of Ocheyedan, IA, and Dennis and Phyllis Meyer of Rushmore, MN, and many nieces and nephews. 

     Visitation will be held on Friday, November 13, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN.  Family Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m., with visitation to follow from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and private family funeral service to be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda, MN,  with Rev. Msgr. R. Paul Heiting officiating.  Pall bearers will be Ryan Rutgers, Jason Dykstra, Mike Bonczek, Ron Holinka, Marv Isder, and Dennis Meyer.  Burial will be in St. Gabriel’s Catholic Cemetery in Fulda.

     Benson Funeral Home in Worthington and Totzke Funeral Home in Fulda are assisting with arrangements.

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