Barbara Jean Garcia, 83, Bismarck, passed away August 25, 2024. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 11:00am at the Bismarck Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Barbara Jean GoodBird McKenzie Garcia was born February 11, 1941 in Elbowoods, ND to John (Goodbird) McKenzie and Alice (Standish) GoodBird. She is a granddaughter of the late Rev. Edward GoodBird. Barbara was raised in Elbowoods until the construction of the Garrison Dam flooded the home area and forced the family to move to the Mandaree area. Barbara attended boarding school in Pierre and Flandreau, SD.
Barbara Jean moved to Denver, CO when the relocation program began. While in Denver, she met and married John Garcia. Barbara lived in a number of states due to John’s job including South Dakota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Arizona.
Her middle name is Jean and that is what her sisters, Patricia and Mildred, always called her.
Jean was proud of her son, Dean, graduating from the University of Utah and the University of Florida in Gainesville. Her son, Lynn, graduated from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Jean raised her foster daughter, Debbie Rose Scott, since infancy.
Jean always spoke of growing up in hard times after the death of her mother when Jean was only about six years old and then being forced to move to the Mandaree area. She often times said they did not have enough to eat. When asked why she put peanut butter in her oatmeal, she said, “A lot of the time we didn’t have sugar or milk to put in it.”
Later in life, she did not have to worry about finances and enjoyed going to the casinos. While living in Indio, CA she also enjoyed the casino buffets. Jean was a Denver Broncos fan.
During her last few months, Jean would say she wanted to go home. In her address/phone book she had written by her sister Mildred’s phone number, “Gone Home” so this is what she wanted to do-Go home to Heaven where her parents, brothers and sisters are. She was the last surviving member of her birth family.
Barbara Jean is survived by her husband, John Garcia; sons, Lynn (Denise) Garcia of Phoenix, AZ, Dean Garcia of San Diego, CA; foster daughter, Debbie Rose Scott of Bismarck; grandchildren, Alexis Garcia, Nicholas Garcia and Harrison GoodBird; great-grandchildren, Alexander Garcia, Elora McCoy and Goddaughter, Sunshine Halvorson.
She has now joined these family members in Heaven: son, John Garcia Jr.; parents, John and Alice McKenzie; sisters, Patricia McKenzie, Mildred Rough, Pauline Nez, Maxine Wilson, Geneva GoodBird, Baby GoodBird; brothers, John McKenzie Jr., Keith G. McKenzie and Jonathan GoodBird.