Barbara Jean Carstens

Barbara Jean Carstens, age 72, of Outing, MN passed away peacefully with her family on January 9th, 2020 at her home.  She was born on June 5th, 1947 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Glen and Patricia (Tallant) Mechelke. The family lived in St. Paul until they moved to Outing, Minnesota in 1949 and started Birch Bay Lodge on Lake Washburn. 

She was a graduate of Northland High School class of 1965. She married Larry Carstens on February 15, 1968 in Wassau, Oregon. She was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Outing.  Barb was a devoted wife and mother.  She was a retired salesperson and bookkeeper for the International Wild Rice Association, Outing Lumber Yard and Land O’ Lakes Marine in Outing.

Barb was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harry and Jane Tallant, Ed and Alice Mechelke, her mother Pat Mechelke, and her beloved husband, Larry Carstens.

Barb is survived by her three children, Stacey (Shaun) McKinney, Sara Smith, and Scott Carstens. Father Glen Mechelke, her sisters Judy (Bob) Seidel, and Kim (Dave) Hughes. 9 grandchildren: Taylor Smith, Alexis Greene, Dakota Carstens, Zachary Greene, Madison Greene, Abbigail Smith, McKinna McKinney, Brayden McKinney, and Bentley McKinney.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Outing.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday.  Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.