Barbara Huttel

Barbara Huttel died peacefully at Elysian Assisted Living surrounded by her loving family on October 11, 2025. She was born on April 17, 1936 in Duluth to Helmer and Helen Ruth, their oldest of four daughters. She lived in Hermantown where she graduated from high school in 1954. She was a natural leader who was active in many activities including music, drama and cheerleading. After graduation, Barb married her high school sweetheart, Larry Huttel in 1955.

They made their home in Hermantown where they raised their four children.

Barb was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She and Larry were avid sports fans, especially the Hermantown Hawks and the UMD Bulldogs. She loved attending her children’s and later her grandchildren’s activities. Barb shared her musical talents at her church and sang in the Grace Lutheran Church choir for many years. She also sang at many weddings and funerals and loved to play the piano and sing Christmas carols with her family.

Barb stayed home to raise her four children and later worked for State Farm Insurance, where she managed the office for many years before retiring in 1997. They built a house on Island Lake where she and Larry enjoyed twenty-five plus years of wonderful times with family and friends. They hosted many events, as their home was where the entire family gathered.

After retirement she and Larry traveled throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They also enjoyed a trip to England.

Barb was the heart of her family and she cared for others beyond the family as well. She was a role model for her family, frequently visiting loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes and was always there whenever someone she knew was in need.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years and the love of her life, Larry; her parents, her son, Duane Huttel and her sister Sharon Verjosky. Barbara is survived by her sisters Karen Briesemeister and Debbie (Frank) Mazzocco; her children Kathy (Rick) Johnson of Fredenberg, Connie (Paul) Richardson of Redlands, California, Dave (Terri) Huttel of Fredenberg and Duane’s wife, Julie Huttel of Hermantown; grandchildren Matt (Alyssa) Johnson, Ben (Erin) Johnson, Chad (Kaitlin) Huttel, Laura (Zachary) Raney and Grant (Alyssa) Huttel. She was blessed to also have 12 great grandchildren; Hallie, Olivia, Avery, Oscar, Jane, Harper, Henry, Hattie, Emmett, Miles, Emersyn and Scarlett.

A celebration of Barb’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church, 5454 Miller Trunk Highway in Hermantown, with visitation starting at 12:30 pm and the service at 1:30 pm.

If so desired and in lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Luke’s Foundation 1000 East 1st Street Duluth, MN 55805 or to Grace Lutheran Church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Elysian Assisted Living, Beehive Assisted Living, St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospice for their loving care of Barb these past few years. 

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St. Duluth (218) 727-3555.