Barbara A. Persons, age 75, of Maple Lake died Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.

Memorial Services will be held 11:30 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2015 at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Maple Lake with Deacon Ron Freeman officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Barbara Ann Persons was born March 31, 1939 in Minneapolis to Willard and Erna (Tessman) Leighton.  She graduated high school from North High in Minneapolis.  On April 25, 1959, Barb was united in marriage to Frederick Persons in Iowa; the marriage was later blessed at Ascension Church in Minneapolis.  She enjoyed gardening, reading, and being with her family.  Barb was a devoted wife and loving mother.  Her greatest joy was the blessing of her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Fred; children Maureen Gaffney of Crystal, Kim (Ted) Relander of Princeton, Cheryl (Jim) Berg of Brooklyn Park, Kevin Persons of Stacy, Jeff Persons of Minneapolis, Wade (Tonia) Persons of Kingston and Megan (Justin) Yager of Dassel; 16 grandchildren; one great grandchild; brothers Bob Leighton of Crescent City, FL and Gordon Leighton of Golden Valley; and sister Joan (Craig) Bomgaars of St. Cloud.  She is preceded in death by her parents and brother William.

Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.