With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Barbara Kay "Barb" Falk of White Lake, SD.
Below, the simplest tribute: the truth of a life as it was lived.
Barbara held deeply to the Methodist faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
What Barbara believed shaped how she loved.
Barbara Falk, 76, of White Lake, SD, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at her home under hospice care. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, May 2, at the White Lake United Methodist Church with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at White Lake Cemetery. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Barbara Kay (Bies) Falk was born January 5, 1950, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Don and Sylvia (Janssen) Bies. Her early years were spent in Salem, South Dakota, and Kandiyohi, Minnesota, before moving to White Lake in January 1962. It was in White Lake where she would build her life, graduating from high school and marrying the love of her life, John "Larry" Falk, on August 23, 1968.
Barbara worked in the White Lake School cafeteria for 22 years. Following her time at the school, she worked at the White Lake Community Daycare for 11 years. It was there that she received the nickname "Grandma Barb," given to her by the daycare kiddos. She eventually retired to focus on her favorite role of all: "chasing" her many grandchildren. Barb cleaned pheasants to earn "fun vacation money" for 30 years.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 57 years, John (Larry) Falk; children, Shelly (Jason) Parker of Brookings, SD; Kathy (Donnie) Styles of White Lake, SD; Sandy (Jason Gosmire) Falk of White Lake, SD; and John "Dixie" Falk of White Lake, SD; siblings, Linda Thiry, Don (Rhonda) Bies of White Lake, SD; Connie (Duane) DeBoer of Oacoma, SD, and Tom Bies of South Carolina; in-laws, Gale (Norbert) Mohnen of White Lake, SD, Janet Regynski of Tennessee, Paul Falk of Minnesota, and Ruth Ransom of Nebraska; 19 grandchildren: Philip (Jen), Patrick (Michelle), Preston (Billy), and Peyton Parker; Kelcie (Chris) Stahl, Kyla (Brad) Beukelman, and Kolby (Brittany) Beukelman; Emily, Kameron (Bobbi), Ella, and Kooper Styles; Mariah, Parker, Brandon, and Aspyn Gosmire; and JD (John Douglas), Jeana, Jesse, and Jayme Falk; 9 great-grandchildren and a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Sylvia Bies; daughters, Karen Falk and Anne Beukelman; parents-in-law, John Paul and Marge Falk; and brothers-in-law, Jim Thiry and Jim Ransom.
