Barry Lynn Ventura, age 61, of Poplar, MT, our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and brother, left with the Angels of God who escorted him to his eternal home to live and reign with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Monday, September 20, 2010.
Although we love and miss him immensely, who are we to deny him his reward.
Barry was born February 20, 1949 in Poplar and grew up during his early years at Wyota. He loved being out in the country and hunting and fishing were in his blood from birth. He especially loved exploring the river bottom in Wyota and spending time with his Grandpa Joe. He was good natured and always had a smile on his face.
He moved to Poplar where he went to junior high and high school. After high school, he married Marilyn Boyd from New Town, ND. He then moved to North Dakota where he worked on oil rigs and eventually worked in management at the Four Bears Motor Lodge in New Town. After divorcing, Barry moved back to Montana and worked on the western side of the state near Sealey Lake driving the large trucks used in road construction in the mountains. He moved back to Poplar where he met and married Kathleen Red Thunder on November 5, 1983. Kathleen had a daughter Traci, from her first marriage and added a son Joey (Joseph), in August of 1985 to their family. Barry drove trucks for several years before settling into farming helping his father-in-law Joseph Red Thunder, until health issues forced him to retire in 2007.
Barry and Kathleen were married for 27 years. He had many friends and relatives in Montana and North Dakota who he had fond memories of. He was an active member in the Assembly of God church in Poplar.
Barry is preceded in death by his mother, Anna (Lambert) Pribbernow; a sister, Karen (Simons) Raviscioni; grandparents, Joseph Parnell and Anna (Two Bear) Parnell; and grandfather, Charles Lambert.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathleen of Poplar; his beloved, son Joseph James (Winter Vaile) and grandson’s Jayden James and Jacoby James all of Missoula, MT; his beloved daughter, Traci (Gordon Messerly, Jr.) and grandson’s Joshua James and Jordon James all of Poplar; sisters, Sharon (Simons) Huffor of Parker, AZ, Lisa Ventura (Carl) Ritterpusch of Billings, MT, and Jean (Darrell) Werner of Poplar; brothers Charles Pribbernow and Curtis Belgarde of Poplar, along with each of this nieces and nephews; He is also survived by his nephew Travis Pribbernow of Poplar, who he was very close to; Also surviving are the Headdresses’; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and John Atchico of Poplar, Percy (Butch) Bear of Poplar; and auntie and uncle, Myrna and Harry Greufe of Poplar.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Sunday, September 26, at the Ventura residence in Poplar. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, September 27, at the Assembly of God Church in Poplar. Interment will follow at the Red Thunder Family Cemetery in Poplar.
Condolences may be sent to the Ventura family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Pallbearers
Travis Pribbernow
Chaz Pribbernow
Derek Werner
Gordo Messerley Jr.
John Granger
Lee Atchico
Honorary Pallbearers
John Atchico
Butch Bear
Richard Lambert
Hardy Braaten
Rocky Braaten
Jeff Spotts
Warren Buck Elk
Pastor Roger Hunt