Barbara Jean Bracken

Barbara Jean (Peterson) Bracken, age 75 of Grafton, ND, passed away on Monday, August 25, 2014 at the Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton. Barbara was born August 23, 1939 on the family farm near Lignite, North Dakota, the daughter of the late Willard and Irlene (Grandall) Peterson. She was the class salutatorian and Girls State Representative for the Lignite High School Class of 1957. Barbara married her high school sweetheart, Porter Alan Wigness, in December 1959 and had one daughter, Barbara Jean. Alan passed away in May of 1963. Barbara attended Minot State College and graduated from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND with a Bachelor's in Home Economics Education. Upon graduation she taught in Home Economics in Belcourt, ND where she met her husband Gordon Dean Bracken who was a guidance counselor there. She asked him if he like movies and if he wanted to go to one and the rest is history. They married on February 13, 1972. Barbara and Gordon later moved to Park River, ND where she taught Home Economics at Park River High School. She later enjoyed working at various businesses in Grafton including The Schoolyard, K Mart and the Leonard Motel. Her favorite job and the one she retired from in September of 2001 was working as the Children's Librarian at Carnegie Regional Library in Grafton. She was well known for her portrayal of Mother Goose and her Storymobile giving talks and readings around Walsh County. Barbara and Gordon owned The Gingerbread House, a bed and breakfast in Grafton until its sale in 2007. Barbara was past president of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Grafton, a board member of Heritage Village, a member of Grafton Lutheran Church and a Red Hatter! Barbara belonged to the Heritage Doll Club in Grafton since its origin over 20 years ago and has a doll collection that was her pride and joy-especially the Barbie dolls! Barbara is survived by her husband Gordon, daughter Barbara (Barbie) Jean Mead and son-in-law Charles Burr Mead. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Jerome Peterson, and son-in-law Roger (Iraj) Bijanzadeh. Funeral services will be Friday, August 29, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the Grafton Lutheran Church of Grafton. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery of Grafton. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.