Barbara "Kush" Heminger, 78, of Agency Village, SD passed away on June 2, 2024, at her home surrounded by family. The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center in Agency Village, SD at 11:00 A.M. There will be an All-Night Wake service starting at 7:00 P.M at the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Community Center in Agency Village, SD on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Officiating will be Clyde Kampeska, Darrell Mireau, and Levi Keoke. The pianist will be Billy Kohl. Drum Group will be the Old Agency Singers. Pallbearers will be Keenan Ojeda, Sage DuMarce-White, Branden LaBatte, Todd St. John, Dylan DuMarce, Braven Bommersbach, and Devlin DuMarce. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jackie Wanna, Karen White, Marie Renville, Lily Renville, Doug Renville, Elly LaBelle, All Her Bingo Buddies, and her co-workers & clients of Dakota Pride. Interment will be at the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Veterans Cemetery in Sisseton, SD. Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Anne St. John was born on October 13, 1945, rural Veblen, SD to Helena St. John. Her grandparents Alec and Alice St. John raised her, and she called them Mamma and Daddy. She attended day school and Tekakwitha Orphanage. She married Sampson DuMarce in 1960 at Wheaton, MN. Together they had seven children: Tammie, Debbie, Helena, Cynthia, Brenda, Wade, and Maxine. She met the love of her life Alexander Heminger. They were united in marriage on July 3, 1992. Barbara worked at Landsberger Creamery and worked on road construction for a while with her husband. They both worked at the Magic for a while. Her last place of employment was in 2004 at Dakota Pride as a CDP technician. She retired on December 31, 2023. Barbara loved playing slots, going to Bingo, and visiting with friends. She also loved taking care of her companion Scooter a terrier dog, hosting family picnics at Sica Hollow, going to her grandchildren's school events, and watching Muchie work on vehicles. Everybody called her "Kush." She will be missed by all who held her dear. Barbara passed away on June 2, 2024, at her home surrounded by family.

Barbara is survived by her sister Ramona St. John; her children Tammie DuMarce,of Sisseton, SD, Debbie DuMarce of Sisseton, SD, Cynthia (David) DuMarce of Agency Village, SD, Brenda DuMarce of Peever, SD , Wade (Rose) DuMarce Sr. of Rosholt, SD, and Maxine DuMarce of Sisseton, SD;  30 grandchildren; 68 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; 2 nephews and nieces; and brother in-law Francis (Tato) Heminger; step daughter Dawn Eagle.

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother, Helena St. John, Alex "Muchie" Heminger; daughter Helena LaBatte; brother Ambrose St. John; four grandchildren Alica Heminger, Courtney DuMarce, Shannon Dora White, and Conrad DuMarce-German; great grandson Raziel Whire.