A Memorial Mass for Barbara J. Pruss, age 80, of O'Neill, NE, will be 11 AM Monday, April 15, 2019 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill.  Rev. Joseph Sund will officiate. A Memorial Visitation will be 2-4 PM Sunday, April 14, 2019 with a Parish Rosary at 4 PM at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.  Barbara passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.   Memorials may be given to the family for future donation to her colleagues in the nursing departments at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital.  Biglin's Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Jean Pruss (McCarthy), the third of six children, was born to George and Lillian (Simonson) McCarthy on November 27, 1938.  She grew up in O'Neill and graduated from St. Mary's Academy in the class of 1956.  After graduation she pursued a degree in Nursing from St Catherine's Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha Nebraska.  On July 1 ^st , 1959 she married Bernard (Bernie) Francis Pruss of Orchard Nebraska.  The couple started married life in Omaha Nebraska where Barb worked as a nurse, and Bernie worked for the Omaha Post Office.  In April of 1960 Barb gave birth to their first, and insisted he be named after his father, Bernard Francis Pruss II.  In July of 1961 came Robert Daniel Pruss.  In the fall of 1962 they moved to a farm near Orchard Nebraska. Barb turned the old farm house into a home in short order and Gregg Edward Pruss was born in February of 1963.  In the fall of 1963 they moved to O'Neill Nebraska, where Daniel Joseph Pruss was born in September of 1964. In January of 1966 Diane Marie Pruss was born, finally a girl!

After a hiatus from nursing, in 1967, Barbara went to work as a Nurse at St Anthony's Hospital (now Avera) and had a long and interesting career in nursing until she retired some 33 years later, in 2000.  While Barbara specialized in Cardiac Nursing for a while as both her father and father in law had cardiac conditions, her true love was Obstetrics and assisting in the birth of children.  In addition to assisting with births Barb was a great mentor and example for children of all ages.  Barb loved being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother and enjoyed spending time with all children that crossed her path.

In addition to being a loving and devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, and her career as a nurse, Barb LOVED horses.  This love started as a little girl and continued through her entire life.  She bought her first two horses, Beauty and Rusty in 1970. Over the years obtaining, riding and caring for many horses.   Even when she could no longer ride them herself, she loved going to "see the horses" and sharing her passion for them with all who knew her.

Barbara also had a long-term devotion to her friends and social group known as "the card party".  A group of couples who would take turns hosting a party where they played cards, socialized and enjoyed good food and each other's company.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 59 years, Bernard; children, Bernard Pruss II and wife Maru of Denver, Colorado, Daniel Pruss and wife Linda of Pueblo, CO, Diane Pruss of O'Neill; three grandchildren, Joe Pruss and wife Ashlea, Jacob Shelhamer and wife Heather and Michael Shelhamer; three great-grandchildren, Emma, Kash and Koi; sister-in-law, Delores McCarthy of Columbus, NE, sisters, Kay Butterfield and husband Larry of Beloit, KS, Lynn Higgins and husband Tom of Valentine, NE, Jim McCarthy and wife Linda of Dupuyer, MT; brothers-in-law, Jim Pruss and wife Pat of Omaha, NE, Mel Herbert of Jacksonville, FL; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Lillian (Simonson) McCarthy; sons, Gregg and Robert Pruss; brother, George McCarthy; sister, Bev McCarthy, sisters in law, Bea Harris and husband Warren, Anne Albracht and husband AL, Marie Herbert, brother in law, Tony and wife Louise.