Minnie "Punky" Barden, 83, of Sturgis, SD, died April 7, 2023, at Mountain View Care in Sturgis, SD.

Minnie Ora Barden (Secrest) also known as "Punky" to friends and family was born on February 24, 1940, to Fred and Minnie (Wilson) Secrest at Horseshoe Bend, Idaho.  The family moved to the Sturgis area in South Dakota where she attended school through the 10th grade. At the age of 17, she married, Robert Barden on April 7, 1957, at Sturgis, South Dakota, and they were married for 53 years, most of these while living at their beloved Marshall Street address in Sturgis. After Bob's death in 2010, Punky moved to Heritage Acres until soon before her death.  Punky died on April 7, 2023, at Mountain View Care Home in Sturgis at the age of 83. It would have been Bob & Punky's 66th wedding anniversary.

Anyone who knows Punky already knows that her skills in music were numerous and impressive.  She could play almost any instrument, but excelled in playing the accordion and the piano, spending many days and evenings playing at local nursing homes as well as senior citizens centers in the area. In addition to her love of music and mastery of instruments, it must be noted that she never took a formal music lesson and played "by ear" through the years of entertaining others.

In addition to music, Punky was an avid Genealogy expert, and was most excited when she located and connected with long lost second and third cousins she had never met.  Her genealogy expertise and knowledge of all things "Barden" and "Secrest" was admirable and her collection of information from both sides of her family is incredibly vast. It was something she was very proud of in her lifetime. Some of this expertise allowed her to be involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution program and was very proud to serve and belong to this group throughout her life.

As her sons grew and left home, Bob and her began to enjoy Black Hills Rendezvous Camping activities in and around the hills and they enjoyed this type of camping and outdoor living for many years. However, as the years went by, they soon preferred a more "comfortable camping experience" and purchased a motorhome for their camping adventures. During this time, she also worked at the Sturgis Meat Service and enjoyed her newfound friends there for a number of years.

Punky is survived by the following people she loved dearly: sons, Cody Barden, of Sturgis, and Lane (Twyla) Barden, of Whitewood, SD; brother-in-law, Mike Carney, Sturgis, SD; nine grandchildren:  Danielle Barden-Street, Atlanta, GA, Ben Barden, Park City, KS, Cady Klynsma, Rapid City, SD, Carsey Clement, Sturgis, SD, Josh Barden, Ada, OK, Justin Barden, Sturgis, SD, Kellen Barden, Forestburg, SD, Paige Barden, Centerville, VA, and Charlie Barden, Sturgis, SD; and eighteen great-grandchildren; and a brother, Gene (Marilyn) Secrest.

Punky was preceded in death by the following people she loved dearly: husband, Robert Barden, infant son, Justin Barden, son, Jody Barden, parents, Fred & Minnie Secrest, daughter-in-law, Wanda Barden, two sisters, Florence Swesey, and Effie Carney, brother-in-law, Billy Swesey.

As you all also knew, Punky never wanted anyone to go to any trouble for her, and this continued with her own planning for her end of life.  She shared with her sons that she did not want anything "fancy," so our compromise is this "simple" celebration of her life as she wished.

Committal services will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 14, 2023, at Black Hills National Cemetery in the Rotunda near Sturgis. Family will meet at 10:30 a.m. to proceed out to Black Hills National Cemetery from Kinkade Funeral Chapel at 10:45 a.m.