Barb Foxton

Anna “Barbara” (Guenter) Foxton Anna Barbara Guenter was born on July 1st, 1942 to Jacob and Elizabeth Guenter in Sonningdale, Saskatchewan, just North of Biggar, Saskatchewan. She was the oldest of six children raised in the Mennonite faith. In 1946, Jake and Beth moved their family (now including David and John) to Steinbach, Manitoba, eventually moving to Austin, Manitoba in 1948. Three more siblings followed (Edna, Betty, and Jim). Barb started school in Austin, she really enjoyed the learning process, always had a curious mind, a kind heart, and helpful hands. Being the oldest in the family meant she was always helping Grandma in the kitchen, baking multiple loaves of bread, cleaning the house, doing loads of laundry, and canning pickles, jams, and meat to help feed the family, and gardening. In 1960, she graduated high school, and for a moment she thought of being a teacher, but found her true calling of being a nurse, after finding a job at The Manitoba School for the Handicapped. In 1962, she enrolled at Brandon General Hospital to start her nurses training. In 1965, on a weekend trip home to a classmate’s sister’s house, she met her future husband, Harvey Foxton. In 1966, she married Harvey, graduated as a nurse, and started nursing in Shoal Lake, Manitoba. In 1968, Barb and Harvey moved to Minnedosa where Barb worked at the hospital. She was also invited to join the Minnedosa Rural Health Aide Auxiliary. She helped make and serve meals at Fun Fest, The Florence Nightingale Tea, and the Personal Care Home Tea, raising money for equipment at the Hospital and Care Home. In 1971, Barb and Harvey had their first child a boy named Russell, followed in 1975 by their daughter Beth-Ann. Barb retired in 2007, but signed up for Palliative Care in 2008, not because she missed the work, but because she missed helping the people, and the friendships of her fellow nurses on shift. In 2016, she lost her husband Harvey. In 2019, Barb was diagnosed with dementia, staying at home until 2021 when she moved into the care home. Even though she was losing her battle with dementia, she would sit up during a medical drama on T.V., telling the nurses, “That is not right, they would never do that in an E.R.!” or “That medication is wrong!” In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Stars Ambulance, Minnedosa Hospital, Minnedosa Personal Care Home, or the Alzheimer’s Society.

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