Barbara Banta Belknap (age 94) died on December 20, 2014 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Daughter of Roy and Jessie (Dubois) Banta, she was born January 28, 1920 in Milltown, WI. She is survived by two children - Douglas Belknap (Elena Sopoci), Santa Fe, NM and Pamela Belknap (William Lamson), St. Paul, MN - three grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Barbara graduated from high school in Casson, MN and from Minneapolis Business College. During World War II, she worked in the Yukon Territory of Canada, Binghamton, NY, and Oakridge, Tennessee, and was later employed in Minneapolis, MN. In November 1946, she married Clinton Woodrow Belknap (deceased March 1960) and in 1951, the family moved to Celina. With Lucille Schelich, Barb founded the Cottage Bookstore, now owned and operated by Wright State University. She later worked at Production Credit Association, and retired in 1986 after 21 years of employment as the clerical office manager of Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc.

Following retirement, Barbara served as the Clerk of the Celina City Council for eight years. Her volunteer work included American Cancer Society and the Mercer County Council on Aging, and she was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She traveled extensively, including trips to Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In 2009, she returned to St. Paul to be near her daughter.

Barb will be remembered by friends and family for her positive outlook, quick wit and dry sense of humor.

At the request of the deceased, a memorial service for family members only will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mercer County Council on Aging; online condolences may be left at LHDfuneralhome.com.