Barbara Ann Hickey

Barbara Ann (Benson) Hickey of Bowling Green MO passed away, November 1, 2022, at the home of her daughter, Zella. A Memorial service to be held Monday, November 7, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Bibb-Veach Funeral Home & Crematory in Bowling Green. Rev. Jon Kroeze and Rev Karen Duffy will officiate. Visitation is from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Burial to follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bowling Green. Active pallbearers are Larry Wilfong, Carroll Schnitzer, Dane Shade, Frank Berlin, Sean Morris, Chris Gamm, Dennis Noel and Martin Hanley. Honorary pallbearers are Cindy Osborne, Sharon Kakouris, Robert Ringhausen, Patty Ringhausen and Devin Koestner. All are invited to lunch following the services the First Christian Church in Louisiana 517 S Carolina. Barbara was born March 13, 1926, in Sterling, NE the oldest and only daughter of Ora Keith and Helen Haynes Benson. Barbara met her life partner at a roller skating rink in Tecumseh NE. On September 24. 1950 she married Walter E Hickey in the Methodist Church, Sterling, NE. They were married 52 years. In those years they lived in Tecumseh and Kimball NE; Escondido CA; Paris, Cyrene and Bowling Green MO. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; her parents: brothers James K Benson and Paul W Benson; and Son-in-law, Earl Eliason. Also preceding her was a special cousin, Ruth Hollenback. Surviving are her daughters Zella Eliason of Louisiana and Zola Finch of Jefferson City; granddaughter Kaitlyn Finch of Jefferson City; and many nieces and nephews. Barbara graduated from Sterling (NE) High School in 1944. After graduation she worked as a telephone switchboard operator in Sterling, Beatrice, and Lincoln NE until she was married. Music was always an important part of her family and life. Each member of the Benson family played an instrument. In high school she played cymbals in the band but piano was Barbara’s beloved talent. While living in Lincoln, she was a student of the Beth Miller School of Piano and performed in several recitals. She and Walter moved to a farm where she planted a garden, raised chickens and helped Walter in any way she could. She cooked for helpers during seasons when neighbors helped each other with hay and harvest. They saved and were able to purchase a used Wm. Knabe & Co baby grand piano which Barbara still owned. Over the years this piano was moved many times on a special dolly Walter built so they could move without aid of moving people. Walter loved listening to her play. She said when Walt was working late or at meetings and she felt scared in the house alone, she would play very loud to drown out any scary sounds. Over the years Barbara gave piano lessons in many of the towns where they lived. Barbara played the organ for churches in Tecumseh NE, Paris, Bowling Green, Louisiana and Clarksville MO. Barbara took a course in piano tunning and repair and with Walter’s assistance tuned pianos for several years. When Walter took on the management of the St Clement Knights of Columbus Roller Skating Rink, Barbara was there to work behind the counter and help in any way. When she could take a break, she put on her skates and skated with Walter and helped anyone who needed help to skate. Barbara was a member of the First Christian Church of Louisiana and was still playing the organ as much as she was able until February 2022. Memorials may be made to Community Loving Care Hospice, First Christian Church of Louisiana or charity of the donor’s choice.

Barbara Ann Hickey

March 13, 1926 - November 1, 2022