Barbara Funk Barton credits accomplishments to faith, family and fortitude

MANTI—Barbara Funk Barton, 92, of Manti, credits her success in life to faith, family and fortitude.

Raised in Sterling, she learned at an early age to overcome life’s challenges with resilience.

She was born Nov. 21, 1933, to Alfred Funk and Leah Mickelson and spent her childhood enjoying the adventures of growing up on a farm.

As a young child, she stayed with her oldest sister, LaRue Pederson, and her husband, George, while her father recovered from a leg injury. George, an amateur photographer, took Barton’s first photograph when she was about 2 years old.

Barbara said the encouragement she received from her father and a mentor, Mrs. Alyce West, helped shape her determination. She also enjoyed working alongside her father, helping with chores such as milking cows, feeding chickens and riding horses to pasture.

“Mother would send me with Dad every place he could take me,” she recalled. “Harry Campbell would always ask me, ‘Who’s little girl are you?’ I would answer, ‘Oh, I’m my daddy’s little farmer.’ Harry would then give me a penny or two so I could buy some penny candy.”

The family also spent time swimming at Palisade Lake, and she remembers neighborhood games such as “Run My Sheepy, Run.”

She attended Sterling Elementary School, where her brother-in-law, the principal, allowed her to play “Taps” on the bugle before the Pledge of Allegiance. After sixth grade, she attended Manti Junior High School and Manti High School, riding the bus each day with students from Mayfield.

Around age 12, Barbara began taking speech and voice lessons from West, who taught her a motto that would guide her throughout life: “Don’t be ordinary, be extra-ordinary. Go the extra mile, and do the extra things other people won’t do.”

“That’s been one of my mottos,” Barbara said. “Whether it was in singing, business, or art … I always did the best I could.”

During her later high school years, she lived with her grandmother while working at Elliot’s Pharmacy and the local theater for Bill McFarland. There she met Bruce Barton, who was home from Utah State University during lambing season. He invited her to a dance at the Armory Dance Hall.

After finishing work that evening, Barbara said she prayed all the way to the dance that Bruce would not stand her up. Relieved, she “spotted him, and he spotted me. And we danced the rest of the night together.”

The couple continued courting through her senior year and married in September 1951.

Bruce Barton returned to Manti to continue his family’s sheep ranching tradition. Together they raised five children: Mary, John, Dianne, Becky and Roger.

Like Barbara, Bruce was musically talented, playing saxophone and clarinet. He once performed with a 100-piece ensemble from Manti High School during Pioneer Day celebrations in Salt Lake City. The Barton family also appeared together in numerous local productions, including “The Sound of Music” at Snow College and the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

Barbara became a longtime soloist in the pageant, “Five with Faust” as a soprano, and Handel’s “Messiah.” She participated in “Messiah” for 52 years, including 36 years as a soloist, and was involved with the Mormon Miracle Pageant from its first performance through its 50-year run.

Among her contributions to the pageant were organizing benefit concerts and coordinating National Anthem singers.

In the early 1980s, Barbara directed the Miss Sanpete County Pageant. Having been crowned Mrs. Utah in 1977 and competing in the Mrs. America pageant that same year, she brought experience to the role. With the help of her uncle, Lawrence Anderson, she built production stairs and a “Miss Sanpete” sign, while expanding opportunities for local royalty to appear with Miss America and ride on parade floats and in hot air balloons.

Barbara’s professional career included design work with Morris Associates, consulting through Total Image, sales with Isagenix, fundraising for congressional campaigns and motivational speaking with Champions by Choice. She became the 24th Isagenix millionaire and was named Utah Business Woman of the Year in 2004.

Despite her accomplishments, Barbara also endured profound loss. She and Bruce lost two adult children, Dianne and John.

She chose to use those experiences as the focus of her motivational speaking.

“You taught me how to overcome any personal problem and how to identify the positive in every situation. I thank you for this,” one youth wrote after hearing her Champions by Choice presentation at a national convention in Texas in 1993.

“With the tragedy of losing two children,” Barbara said, “it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do with what happens. Whether you make stepping stones and grow, or stumbling blocks and have fear and anger.”

“But I wanted to grow and show people that you can overcome tragedy, but you have to learn to forgive and let go,” she said.

For the past year, Barbara has focused on organizing and fundraising for the Funk’s Lake Legacy Project and celebration.

Her great-grandfather, Daniel Buckley Funk, founded and engineered Funk’s Lake, now Palisade State Park. Her grandfather, George Alfred Funk, helped construct the 75-acre reservoir using horse and ox teams. Barton said she has always felt a personal connection to the site through family history and childhood recreation.

The project began after Barbara said she dreamed of ensuring Daniel Buckley Funk received a new headstone. Rather than allow the original pioneer marker to be forgotten, she proposed donating it to Palisade State Park as part of a permanent historical display.

Working with park staff, Barbara has helped plan a location for the headstone, a protective gazebo and historical displays explaining Daniel Buckley Funk’s legacy and the origins of Funk’s Lake and Palisade State Park.

Each day, Barbara makes phone calls, schedules appointments and meets with business owners, mayors, city councils, county commissioners and Sanpete County residents to seek support for honoring one of the county’s earliest and most innovative pioneers. She also credits her nephew, Steve Funk, for providing technical and organizational assistance.

Barbara said the celebration is intended to unite communities across Sanpete County while teaching younger generations about the sacrifice and dedication required to build landmarks such as Funk’s Lake.

“I feel very inspired to share that we all have a divine destiny and we need to know what our purpose is,” Barbara said. “I feel like it is to build and unite families, to be stronger, to love and support each other. God’s plan is that we can have peace and happiness and understanding, instead of fear and anger. It’s really to serve one another.”

“This project isn’t about me, and what has been accomplished. It is about what God wanted to accomplish in bringing the families and communities together and accomplishing his will to bring stronger relationships, peace and support to our area,” Barbara concluded.

If someone asks Barbara how she is doing, her answer is often simple: “I’m doing the best I can.”

A legacy celebration honoring Daniel Buckley Funk and highlighting the project is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 8 at Manti City Park (in case of inclement weather the location will be at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel on Third South and Main). The public is invited to attend the program, which will include music and speakers.

Donations for the Funk Legacy Project at Palisade State Park are still being accepted. Donations to the memorial fund may be made through Venmo at @DBFunk-memorial with the note, “Legacy Project Fund for Daniel Buckley Funk.”