Barbara Alice Whitson

Barbara Alice Whitson passed away on August 15, 2023 just a week shy of her 72nd birthday in Salt Lake City, Utah after quite a life of being a “tough broad.”
She was born on August 24, 1951 in Red Wing, Minnesota to Ramona Jean Orvick and John Merritt Whitson. She had two sisters, Jana and Kay. She was blessed with one son, Nathan, whom she loved with all she had. Nathan attests his passion for music that his mother exemplified for him. She even witnessed some of music’s legends in concert during her life including, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, and Paul McCartney.
Barbara loved cats and Nathan states that it was often joked between them that she had nine lives like a cat. Not only did she narrowly survive an aggressive cancer surgery and intense radiation around 10 years ago, but she survived a horrific car accident as a teenager where she projected through the windshield to the outside of the car. She also endured life-threatening third-degree burns about 15 years ago.
Quoted from a Facebook post by her son Nathan:
“As you can tell by now, my mom was a tough broad..a fighter, a survivor. I am so thankful she overcame so many perils and got to see me graduate from college, get married and buy a house in Utah. She was so proud of me and the life I’ve built with Erin, and she would tell me I am the best thing she did in her life. The fight is over now mom.
‘Rest, you can rest now
Rest, you will be safe now
Rest, you can rest now
Rest, you will be saved now.’
I am eternally grateful for you in my life, and for raising me into who I am today. You will be so deeply missed, but you left an indelible mark on this earth and I love you more than I can say.”