Barbara Kagg Lekstrom, of Annandale, VA, a floral designer and folk artist, passed away on March 10th. She was 73.

Funeral service will be 11 AM, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN. Burial will be at Greenwood, Cemetery, Warren, MN.

Visitation will be 5 " 8 PM, Monday, May 9, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, with a 7 PM prayer service and for one hour prior to the service at the church, Monday.


Born in 1937 in East Grand Forks, MN, Barbara grew up in Viking, MN, graduating from the Northwest School of Agriculture (now University of MN, Crookston) and earning her Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College. Shortly after graduation and working briefly as a schoolteacher in Thief River Falls, she met and married Lennart Lekstrom of Crosby-Ironton, MN, and moved to Norfolk, VA. After various relocations including Nebraska and California, they settled with their family in Annandale, VA, living there for the last thirty years. Barbara worked as a floral designer for nearly twenty years. Since retiring, both she and Len enjoyed spending their summers residing in Viking, MN.

Barbaras folk art has won numerous awards and delighted many over the years. Working in fiber art to craft wool rugs, Barbaras creations have won blue ribbons, many first place prizes, and Best in Show at the Decorah Rug Show. They have been featured in multiple issues of Celebration and Rug Hooking Magazines. Her hand-made folk dolls, Fjord Folk, learned from her good friend and local artist Inez Mostue, have become highly sought after over the years and are enjoyed by many.

Barbara enjoyed bridge and travel and spending time with family and friends. Survivors include two daughters, Julie Lekstrom Himes of Boston, MA and Kristen Lekstrom of North Potomac, MD, and three grandsons.