Archived Services

Barbara Jean McConahie
10-19-2020

Barbara McConahie, age 77, of Sioux Falls, died of heart failure Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Avera Heart Hospital.

Barbara Jean Harmison was born on January 5, 1943 in Sioux Falls. After graduating from Canton High School in 1960, Barb worked as a teller for Sioux Falls National Bank. On August 24, 1963, Barb married Ron McConahie at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion, SD. After her daughters were both in school, Barb worked a variety of jobs. For the majority of her career, she worked as a collections supervisor for Sears Payment Systems/Associates/Citibank. She continued to meet with friends from work during retirement for monthly birthday celebrations.

Barb loved to travel and had a special place in her heart for Kahana Village in Maui, Hawaii. She and Ron also took several bus trips near and far in retirement, making many friends along the way. She enjoyed learning about history and avidly read biographies and memoirs of presidents, first ladies, royals and other political personalities. She shared a love of college football (especially the Nebraska Huskers) with her daughter Deb. With Mary, she spent countless hours browsing her stamping catalog and making cards with her Stampin’ Sisters. Barb delighted in the interests and accomplishments of her grandchildren and regularly attended their activities.

Every summer, Barb looked forward to hearing the drum lines of high school bands as practice for marching season began. Her passion for marching band started when her daughters were members of the Lincoln High School Marching Band. She and Ron were Band Backers and served as president of the LHS Band Parent Association in the late 1980s. For her 70^th birthday, she traveled to The Tournament of Roses Parade with her daughters and enthusiastically supported the LHS Band when they marched in the parade that year. More recently, she was excited to learn that a return of the Marching Band is a part of the vision for the Augustana University School of Music.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Mary (Jonathan) Toso of Canton, and Deb McConahie of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandchildren: Rebecca (Jake) Toso Mahowald of Rifle, Colorado, Jacob Toso, Matthew Toso and Elizabeth Toso, all of Canton; sister: Deb Barnett of Sioux Falls; and brother: David (Carol) Swisher of Brookings. She was preceded in death by her husband: Ronald; brother: Donald Schanandore; and her parents: Irene Swisher and Eugene Harmison. Memorials can be directed to the LHS Band Parents Association or the Augustana University School of Music.

 A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 24, 10:30 a.m. at Canton Lutheran Church in Canton with Pastor Tim Thies officiating.