Barbara (Peterson) Allbery, 80, of North Platte, passed away June 13, 2015, in Lincoln, surrounded by her family.

Barbara was the daughter of Clarence and Evelyn Peterson, born on March 29, 1935. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953.

She then married and had three daughters, Marlene, Sharlene and Julie.

Barbara was blessed with musical talent and was a member of the Octet in High School, sang and played the piano and organ in numerous weddings for family and friends and was the music director at Trinity Chapel in Rokeby and at Lakeview Methodist in Capitol Beach. Barbara also loved entertaining patrons with her organ playing at Lees’ Restaurant and spent much time leading 4-H groups focusing on music and sewing.

Around 1967, Barbara began working for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, where she met her second husband, Dwight Allbery. In 1971, Barbara and Dwight married and moved to North Platte, where they had two daughters, Rachelle and Rhonda. They made their home in North Platte for 41 years.

Barbara continued playing the organ and piano for weddings, church services and funerals, as well as assisting 4-H groups with sewing projects and music competitions. She and Dwight loved to travel and visited Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, Newfoundland, New York, Arizona and British Columbia, as well as numerous other locations across the U.S.

Another passion of Barb’s was her gardening, and she was known for her beautiful flowers, especially her irises. She was also an extremely talented seamstress, making wedding and prom dresses for friends and family, creating an outfit in a day for a big event and costumes and outfits for her daughter’s 4-H and dance competitions.

Barbara found another avenue to showcase her creativity in 1974, when she began making “Carp-Art.” This “hobby” turned into a family business and led to many traveling experiences for almost 30 years. Trips included Denver, Cheyenne, Sidney, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Minot and other small towns around the Midwest.

Barbara worked at Bonnie’s Travel Chain and the Lincoln County Courthouse, was a longtime member of the Eagles Club and she and Dwight were founding members of the Cody Ringnecks chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Evelyn Peterson; and her husband, Dwight Allbery.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Marlene Wiest, of Kansas City, Sharlene (David) Carmichael, of Beatrice, Julie Alm, of North Platte, Rachelle (Shawn) Allbery-McQuade, of North Platte, and Rhonda (Allan) McGill, of Lincoln; grandchildren, Justin (Gena) Jones, Casey (Alesa) Jones, Cody (Amanda) Burrows, Shelby Wiest, Matthew Wiest, Landon McGill, Lilli McGill, Gage McQuade, Sissy McQuade and Rylee McQuade; as well as seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, July 31, at the United Methodist Church in North Platte. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.