Barbara Jean (Perrault)  Strumstad, of Crookston, MN passed peacefully of natural causes on Monday, April 6, 2020 at the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Center in Crookston, MN.  She was 86 years old.

She is survived by loving children Thad and Andrew Gambill of Louisville, KY, Roger (Erika) Perrault of St. Paul, MN and Mary Wardrip (Rory King), of Louisville, KY.  She is also survived by five grandchildren:  Dominic, Christian, Nikala, Aidan, and Nora, and one great-grandson, Kaden.  She is preceded in death by her parents Roland "Henry" and Margaret (Bellenger) Perrault, brothers Roland "Bud" and Adrian "AJ" Perrault, and sisters Doris Fronk, Donna Heskin, Patricia "Patsy" Rath, Jude "Penny" Kegel and Margaret "Peggy" Sandrock.

Barbara was born June 18, 1933, in Grand Forks, ND graduating from John A Johnson High School in St. Paul and Metropolitan Community College in Minneapolis.  She began her lifelong career of medical service in the military as a Naval Hospitalwoman.  After the military, she married Robert "Doug" Gambill and began raising her two eldest sons, Thad and Andy.  She later married Roger Strumstad and had a son and daughter, Roger and Mary, giving her all to raising her family while working a variety of jobs at the US Post Office, 3M, and in real estate.  As a resilient single parent committed to her family, she resumed her career in medicine working as a registered nurse.  Moving to Fargo, North Dakota, Barbara continued her education by earning a B.S. degree in Nursing at Moorhead State University in Minnesota.   She didn't stop there; continuing work on her Master's Degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson becoming a Public Health Nurse.  Her wandering, pioneer spirit beckoned her throughout the years as she worked for Indian Health Services and the Tribal Government, moving many times to Arizona, Alaska, and Montana, before finishing her career in her home state of Minnesota.  She spent many years on the shores of Cass Lake and after retiring, settled at the Villa St. Vincent.  There she was loved by fellow residents and staff, affectionately referred to as a "Little Stinker" and developed a very close relationship with her wonderful, caring niece Karen Schiller.

Barbara's love of travel and adventure were driving forces in her life, making trips to Australia, Greece and Italy as well as downhill skiing for the first time in her late 60's.  Equally important in her life were her Catholic Faith and Native Heritage.  She was fearless and independent.  Her spirit will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Villa St. Vincent Flower Garden Fund, Crookston, MN.

Funeral Service: Memorial services will be held at a later time due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Interment: St. Josephs Cemetery, Beaulieu, MN.