It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Barbara Jeanne Muth, who passed away on March 11, 2021, at the age of 71, at Monument Health, Rapid City SD. Barb was born on November 6th, 1949 in Coeur d'Alene Idaho, to parents Robert Lee Casebeer and Helen Bydeley. Barb is survived by her sister, Virginia Moser of Tulsa OK; her daughter, Shelby Dahl; son-in law, Nathan R Dahl; and her five grandchildren, Halie Dahl, Hidie Dahl, Kinsie Dahl, Kaysie Dahl, and Jeremie Dahl of Rapid City.

Barb attended school in Jackson Hole WY, where she could never get enough of the Grand Tetons, the exceptional skiing, and the overall majesty of a land so beautiful. She attended the University of Wyoming, Majoring in Speech Pathology, Peru State College, obtaining her Bachelor of Science in elementary Education with an endorsement in special education, and Black Hills State University, where she got her Masters in Elementary Education.

She was a teacher, through and through, be it as her career as she taught for 25+ years, at Knollwood Elementary School, mostly in the fifth grade; or just in everyday conversation, there was ALWAYS a story for and behind, everything. It is this that will be missed the most. She was always passionate about her students, she took the time and care to get to know every one of them, their situation, their needs and passions; they were her life. She spent countless hours going above and beyond the call of duty, putting together fundraisers for new technology, playground equipment and things to further expand the education of the students. Most of all though, if you were to ask any of her past students, she was most well known for her animals in the classroom, most notably Iggy the Iguana.

She loved culture, of all kinds; American history, African, Native American, Japanese, Mexican, you name it, if it involved people, she had a passion for it. This love stemmed from her Dutch heritage and extended time spent in Africa with her parents while her father was doing research in wildlife management with United Nations FAO. Africa is where she graduated High School and later got married. Furthermore, giving fuel to her passions fire, she combined her love of teaching and cultures of the world to partake in a teacher exchange program, where she was able explore the ways of cultures across the globe, living in Japan with an exchange family, she grew as a person and a teacher.

During the summer, when she would have extended breaks from the school year, and even after school hours, Barb never stopped working. She worked at Reptile Gardens as a ticket greeter, but she was more than that to the establishment; she spent so much time getting to know the people she had just met, finding out where they came from, where they were going, telling them about the gardens, her life, the area and so on, she very much was one of the attractions at the gardens. Additionally, she worked at the Comfort Inn where again she found herself as more of a tour guide than a Guest Service Agent. She loved to talk to the tourists and became quite a staple in the operation.

It was her grandchildren that Barb was the proudest of. Anyone who knew her could recognize her truck by the license plate that read "OMATAXI". That is what she was and that is what she loved, being a grandmother, OMA. Everyone, to include most adults that encountered the lighthearted and loving person that was Barb, called her OMA. Barbara had a big heart, and that is good, or else she would not have been able to touch as many people as she did in such a profound way.

She hitchhiked across Europe, had an undeniable affinity for giraffes, loved to sew, could always count on her to have a good hat, and if you ever needed to occupy ten minutes or three hours you could count on her stories to do so.

She will be greatly missed,

Barb, Mom, Oma, Ms. Muth.

There are no services planned at this time.