Barb Westover

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Barb (Barbara) Ann Westover passed away Sunday, December 29, 2024 at home due to a tragic horse accident. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 3, 2025 at the William J. Janklow Community Center in Flandreau, SD. Visitation will begin prior to the service beginning at 9:30 AM.

Barb was born on November 30, 1949 to James and Frances Loiseau joining her older brother Jim, and later becoming big sister to six younger siblings. She attended Egan High School where she was a cheerleader and later crowned homecoming queen. After graduating Egan High in 1968, Barb went on to marry Tom Westover on November 30, 1968. Barb and Tom were married 56 years and had two daughters, Tricia and Darcey.  

Growing up on the farm she rode horses at an early age, helped with the field work, milked cows, fed chickens, and everything else that needed to be done.  Barb was a hard worker and her mom’s biggest helper.  Horses were a huge part of her life; she competed in 4-H and all the horse shows that the family went to.  Barb’s horse Casey foaled the racehorses her parents ran throughout South Dakota and Wyoming.  Casey (Casey’s Ladylove) was later inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.  To this day Barb and Tom continue the legacy built by her parents' horses and the Frenchman’s pedigree.

Barb continued her passion for barrel racing and competed up until the time of her death.  She had many horses that she loved dearly throughout the years.  She owned Frenchmans Flirt, who was a daughter of Frenchmans Lady and only sister to the famed world-renowned Quarter Horse sire Frenchmans Guy.  She competed on Flirt and went on to raise French Streak to Vegas, French Streak to Rodeo, French Streakin Izzy, French Streakin Flirt, French Streaking Jess, and many others who are known for their athletic ability and winning in the barrel racing arena. Barb and Tom traveled throughout the country to see their horses and their offspring compete and win. Barb’s trophy saddles, buckles, and various awards are a testament to her and her horses' abilities; yet Barb would be the first to state her greatest awards were the friendships she built in the rodeo arena.

Barb had several jobs before starting her job at Sioux Valley Electric, retiring after 42 years as an Engineering Data Specialist. Those she worked with became another family; she loved all her coworkers dearly.

Barb’s first love was her family and horses; but, she did make time to travel and was always the life of the party, creating amazing memories no matter where the trip took her.  Most recently she checked off a bucket list item of going to a George Strait concert in Las Vegas. She attended her final NFR and watched the colt sired by French Streak to Vegas, ridden by LaTricia Duke compete in the barrel racing. Other horses from Barb and Tom’s breeding program have competed and won at many events throughout the country.

Barb and Tom were their daughters' greatest defenders and supporters during high school sports. This continued at their grandchildren’s sporting events and other activities.  Most recently, she and Tom became great-grandparents of Dalton’s and Austin’s children.  They spent many hours and fun-filled time with Bree, Gracie, Hadley and Harper (the twinkies), Madeline, Wesson and Witten.

Barb is survived by her husband Tom; daughter, Tricia Jensen and children, Hannah and Noah; daughter, Darcey (Dale )Ellefson and their children Dalton (Jamie) Ellefson and Austin (Kaitlin) Ellefson; seven great-grandchildren; three brothers: Charles (Sandi) Loiseau, Frankfort, Kansas, Mick (Cindy) Loiseau, Egan, SD, and Val Loiseau, Hot Springs, SD; three sisters: Beverly Kennedy, Vermillion, SD, Elisabeth (John ) Hollmann, Hot Springs, SD, and Mary (Kem) Kjerstad, Rapid City, SD; sister-in-law, Mary Dell Loiseau, Flandreau, SD; and many nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Zoey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Frances Loiseau; brother, Jim Loiseau; and brother-in-law, Bill Kennedy.