Barbara Ness

Barbara Esther Ness (nee Johnson)

Barb Ness, age 88, passed away February 24th, 2026 in Fargo, ND.

Barb was born on July 28th, 1937 to John Willis Johnson and Esther (Anderson) Johnson in Mayville, ND. She attended Grade School and High School in Galesburg, ND. After High School, She attended St Joseph’s School of Nursing in Fargo, ND graduating with her Registered Nurse degree (one of the last 3 year RN’s in North Dakota) in 1958. She then attended Nurse Anesthetist school in Grand Forks, ND at St Michaels Hospital.

While in Nurse Anesthetist school, she married her High School sweetheart Curtis Jerome Ness at Clifford Lutheran Church on November 22, 1958. The couple moved to Grand Forks, where she continued to practice at St Micheal’s. In 1959, their first son Keith Allan was born, followed in 1961 by Michael John in 1961 and by James in 1966. With the birth of Michael, Barbara decided to focus on caring full-time for her boys. She was an unending champion and supporter of her family. In 1968, tragedy struck , when Jimmy died from a brain tumor. She showed great courage and fortitude throughout his illness and hospitalization.

In 1974, Curt took a promotion to Sgt in the Highway Patrol in the Fargo District and the family moved to Harwood, ND. During this time she returned to nursing, when her 2 oldest sons attended NDSU. Barb often said she missed the solitude of rural life and the good friends that she met there.

In 1997, She and Curt moved to Fargo for their remaining years. The summers were spent visiting with friends neighbors, traveling throughout the United States and visiting family in Colorado.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Curtis, her son James, her sister Mary Halvorson, and her parents, John and Esther Johnson.

She is survived by her sons, Keith (Carmen), and Michael (Diane), 5 Grandsons, Jesse (Keneisha), Ryan, Kevin, Daniel and Joshua (Traci). She is also survived by 4 great grandchildren; Khadriennia, Khaliannah, Kenzie and Kelsey.

She will be missed.