Joanna Belle Barber, 74, Custer died Tuesday, June 26 at Custer Regional Senior Care as a result of complications of congestive heart failure and diabetes. She was born February 16, 1938 in Omaha, Nebraska to Melvin and Jessie (Burke) Hanson. As a young girl she lived with her family on a ranch near Argyle and later in Hot Springs. She graduated from Hot Springs High School.

Following high school Joanna attended the Arthur Murray Dance School and became a dance instructor. In 1957 she also married Steve Corbin of Hot Springs. They were later divorced. Joanna worked for numerous radio and television stations as a copy and traffic manager. While living in California in 1968 she met and married Jack Barber. In 1971 when Jack was sent abroad with the United States Air Force, Joanna settled in Edgemont, where her parents lived, to raise both her and Jack's children. She was divorced from Jack in 1978.

While living in Edgemont, Jo worked at the Beef Palace Feedlot in Igloo, she drove truck to deliverer bulk propane to Fall River County residents and she worked for Burlington Northern Railroad as a brakeman, then conductor. She enjoyed her "railroad" years immensely and was one of only a few women who worked on the trains. After an on-the-job injury, she retired from BN in 1986. By that time Jo had moved back to Hot Springs and had purchased a house that her father built when she was a young girl. While living in Hot Springs she worked in real estate sales as a closing agent.

After retiring and as her health presented challenges, Jo moved to Custer to be near her daughter. In late 2010 she moved to assisted living in Lead. Just a few weeks ago she moved to the nursing home in Custer.

Jo took great pleasure in many activities. She loved to cook, garden and can her home grown vegetables. She would spend countless hours landscaping her yard and growing flowers. She also loved horses. As a young girl she could be found perfecting her trick riding skills and as an adult she spent many years hauling kids to compete in rodeo's and as a 4-H horsemanship leader. Jo also loved the Black Hills. She inherited several gold claims from her father and spent a good amount of time attempting to mine gold. Jo's door was always open to family, friends and those less fortunate or lonely. Jo was an artist who loved to oil paint. Her daughters are blessed to have her art hanging on their walls.

Survivors include her daughters, Teresa (Victor) Pedersen, Custer and Misty Peck, Belle Fourche, a brother, Raymond Hanson of Hot Springs, a sister, Patricia (Stephen) Koller, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and her closest cousin, Verna Barker of Edgemont, nephews, cousins, Joanna is also survived by five grandchildren and three great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Helen Gorsuch, a son, Larry Hanson, and a grandson, Justin Stover.

Services will be at 10:00 am, Monday at McColley's Chapel of the Hills, in Custer with Pastor Wally Steele officiating. Burial will follow at the Pringle Cemetery.

A memorial has been established.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com