JoAnne Marie Barr

JoAnne Marie (Tooley) Barr, 83, of Hudson, SD, and most recently Hills, MN, passed away on Monday, October 26, 2026, after a brief diagnosis of metastatic brain cancer. Service information pending.

JoAnne was born January 30, 1943, to Lloyd and Cecilia Tooley in Dallas, South Dakota (delivered by her father due to a snowstorm). Eventually the family moved to Beresford, where she graduated from Beresford High School.

JoAnne was immensely proud to be from a family of 15, and though she was the smallest of the crew at 5'2", she always faced a challenge head on. She has told stories of being a crackpot aim with a shoe at the 11 brothers if needed, and often, she talked of helping her mother in the kitchen with the laundry or watching her siblings at a young age and was grateful to help her parents out. Her pride in America and love for the flag were instilled not only by her parents but also by her 11 siblings that served in the military. She was a proud lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary #2975 in Beresford.

She raised her 3 children, Theresa, Scott and Annette, alone and taught them the same outlook, instilling a strong work ethic and the importance of honesty and trust, as well as the importance of faith in which hers never wavered. She would often say that "being true to your word was so important". When downsizing to her apartment, a note was found written with a prayer "Lord: help me remember that nothing is going to happen to me today, that You and I together can't handle".

She worked as a lead inspector at Otis Radio in Hawarden, and in 1972 she graduated from Le Mars Beauty College and began working at Linde's Salon and The Red Flair Salon in Hawarden, IA, before opening JoAnn's Beauty Salon in Freeman, SD, and Emery, SD, before moving back to Hawarden. JoAnne retired in 2024 (yes, still caring for customers), closing up shop in her home in Hudson, SD. She cleaned the Cooperative Farmers Elevator in Hudson for many years, also retiring in 2024. Over the years she worked many jobs, from head chef to VFW manager. She enjoyed what she did and the many hats she wore and made many lifelong friends. Many cards from her beauty shop clients were kept, along with notes written that they received a free haircut for celebrating their birthday or a Christmas gift, and many checks were found that were not cashed with similar notations. She had a giving nature and many times gave more than she would accept to receive.

JoAnne loved being a grandma and great-grandma, quilting and sewing. Over the years she has made many quilts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved the special detail of hand stitching outlines of hands and feet (often relentless on having them sent to her to do so). She also made quilts for siblings, great nieces and nephews and friends. She had said at one time that "these quilts are like a hug that keeps giving." Her quilts are located as far away as Australia. She loved showing up with treats for her grandchildren or great-grandchildren; her favorites to bring were Little Debbie snacks and cereal.

She was always willing to help out when needed, from helping a brother shingle, helping with a recovery after surgery, installing a furnace, not to mention the many haircuts in the backyard of the family gathering (with a little surprise nose hair trim too), whatever the job she would be in assisting with the never stop energy she had. She was little in stature but had a huge heart and often said, "Dynamite comes in small packages."

She is survived by her daughter, Annette (Tony) Martens, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings, Jim (Deanna) Tooley, Lloyd (Hap) Tooley, Tony (Lyn) Tooley, Mary (Jim) Roth, Phil (Sandy) Tooley, Pat (Iris) Tooley, Elizabeth "Bess" (Easton) Floe, and Vince (Kelly) Tooley.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Cecilia, brothers: Jerry (Hichan) Tooley, Gene (Lucy) Tooley, John (Susan) Tooley, Joe (Kathy) Tooley and Lawrence "Butch" Tooley; infant sister, Mary Jo; her daughter, Theresa Wilson, and son Robert Scott Barr.