Barbara Kay Kirkpatrick

Barbara Kirkpatrick (nee) Thompson of North Oaks, MN passed away peacefully on January 19, 2026, at the age of 63. Barb was born on January 20, 1962, in Minneapolis, MN, and adopted days later.

As a young child Barb lived in Cali, Columbia, and she then spent her high school years living in Roseville, MN, where she graduated in 1979 from Alexander Ramsey High School. Barb was an excellent high school athlete, competing in both track and field and playing volleyball. She then carried on with her secondary education at UofM Morris and at the UofM Mpls.

In the fall of 1984 while working at Atwood Larson Co. in the Mpls Grain Exchange, Barb asked a business associate to join her for a social gathering on Lake Minnetonka. Little did Barb know at that time, that within just months she would be marrying this person. On January 26,1985 Barb and Craig Kirkpatrick exchanged wedding vows at the Roseville Lutheran Church.

At the age of only 29 Barb was diagnosed with her first cancer, and her life’s path was forever altered. After recovering from her treatments, Barb moved on in her life leaving the business world and becoming extremely active in the volunteer community.

In 1991 Barb first started working with the American Cancer Society, helping cancer patients locate needed resources. She then spearheaded the formation of their Community Connection Program, providing outreach services and assistance to cancer patients.

Barb was always wanting to help the community in which she lived, so she trained to become a Community Affairs Officer, with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department. Barb was very active as a CAO, volunteering for their community events and becoming personal friends with the Sheriff and many of his deputies too.

Barb’s home in North Oaks offered her a large yard, with an open palette to design her flower and vegetable gardens, and with this she became passionate about her gardening. She designed and planted her yard and water garden with the goal of feeding the birds. As she learned more and more about gardening, she decided to take her training to a new level and studied at the UofM, becoming a Master Gardener. She then volunteered countless hours helping others with their gardening problems, heading the Ramsey County Diagnostic Clinic, and she never lost her love for beautiful plants. Her garden was featured in the Pioneer Press, and over the years she shared her garden with many on charity garden tours.

Barb had a great love of history too, and with that passion, she joined the Hill Farm Historical Society. For over 20 years she was a proud member, and most recently she managed and oversaw their website.

Later in life Barb wanted to give her husband a lasting gift, by creating his family tree. She started out with the genealogy basics, but Barb was never one to settle for the minimum, so she took her training to a new level by enrolling in many genealogy courses, along with the more advanced DNA genetic genealogy classes. She was a quick study and again wanting to help others, she volunteered at the Minnesota Genealogical Society as a researcher, with many clients from around the world.

In addition to helping others, Barb had a love for little dogs, especially rescued toy poodles. She always said that she would have loved to have had 10 rescue puppies living with her, but she just needed more arms.

During most of Barb’s adult life she was challenged by more cancers. With advancements made in genetic testing, it was later determined that Barb was afflicted with a genetic defect called Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, which predisposed her to having the many different cancers. She would eventually have eight primary cancers in her lifetime.

Barb was a loving wife, with an amazing ability to cook, bake, and to Scatter Joy amongst everyone she met. Barb loved people and they loved her back. Barb and Craig were true soulmates and had a wonderful lifetime together, enjoying many great global travel adventures and doing what they loved most, just spending time together. Barb lived her life to the fullest.

This world was never meant for one as loving, caring, and beautiful as Barb.
Barb is survived by her husband, Craig Kirkpatrick, North Oaks, MN; and her brother, Curt Thompson (Jodi), Minneapolis, MN; her sisters, Mink Reiter (Michael), Worden MT, Loy Koch (Tim Radle), Missoula, Mt, Shelly Rowden (Scott), Auburn WA; brother-in-law, Alan Kirkpatrick, Tower, MN; sister-in-law, Gayle Kirkpatrick (Norman) Raleigh, NC; along with many nieces and nephews. Barb was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Brad (Sherry), Ellijay, GA; and her sister, Honey Koch, Billings, MT.

Barb’s life will be celebrated with a ceremony at 10 AM Friday, April 17th at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, Minneapolis, MN. Doors will open to guests at 9:30 AM. Interment will follow the ceremony. A SendOff reception will be held from 12-3 PM at the Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Picket Fence Poodle Rescue or Living LFS-Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.