Barbara Meckola

Our much loved wife, mom, grandmother and friend, Barbara Marie Meckola passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, Minn.  Born on October 17, 1935 in Sandstone, Minn., she was 90 years old when she passed.  Our hearts are broken but we’re so grateful for the time we had and the love she gave us.

Barb is preceded in death by her parents: Edner and Agnes (Peters) Erickson; two brothers, David and Dean; as well as her sister Rose; Barb’s beloved son, Loren Meckola and her grand-daughter,  Crystal Meta.   

Barb’s passing will be mourned by her husband Duane; her daughters Denise (Paul) Enberg, Marlene (Mike) Tripp; seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.  

Barb grew up in Columbia Heights, MN in a house her dad (Edner), a carpenter, built.  Mom would tell us stories of lazy summers spent swimming and fishing down at Rice Creek and of helping her Ma (Agnes) with chores and cooking.  Mom graduated from Columbia Heights High School in 1953 and moved to California for a little while, living with her brother and sister-in-law.    

Barb and Duane (Sonny) met at a dance at the Medina Ballroom, fell in love and married on May 19, 1956; this May would have been their 70th anniversary!  They raised their family in Mounds View, MN and then moved their young family to a new house that they built together in Blaine, MN.

Our Mom was multi-talented!  She helped Dad with his business, kept 3 kids busy, loved to sew us beautiful clothes, had a huge garden, canned and cooked wonderful meals.  She loved crafts, crocheting, knitting and quilting.  I don’t think there was a moment when Mom was awake that she wasn’t making something. 

Upon retirement, around 1990, Mom and Dad moved to Duck Lake (Menahga area) into a cabin they had built over the years.  I think the cabin was Mom’s idea of heaven on earth.  There she could fish every day, pick berries in the woods and have her kids and grandkids spend time at the lake with Gramma and Grandpa.  

Mom really enjoyed playing poker with friends and family, or having a beer with dad before supper.  She also loved the occasional Casino trip, where she played the slot machine and ALWAYS came home with some cash!

More than anything, Barb loved her family. That love is something we’ll carry with us forever. We miss her deeply and will think of her every day.

We would like to thank the staff at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home for taking good care of Mom while she lived there.

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