01/20/2026
Barbara Ann Frank Coster
Barbara Ann Frank Coster, age 89, of Montrose, Colorado passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Barbara was born on March 12,1936 in Sterling, Colorado to Elizabeth (Kippes) Frank and Joseph Martin Frank. She was one of 20 children born to her parents. Being second to the youngest child with one brother younger, Barbara always treasured family life. She often recalled stories of the fun, laughter and learning she was able to experience being in such a large close-knit family. Particularly, she often recalled the dance moves which her brother, George, ten years her senior, taught her. Included in those moves was swinging her over his shoulders and under his legs while doing the Jitterbug! If you haven’t seen the Jitterbug from the 1940’s, Google that, it’s on YouTube!
Barbara’s youth was spent on the farm near the South Platte River in Crook, Colorado where her family’s intense work ethic was instilled in her, lasting a lifetime. A dream life for a child; raising chickens, sheep, pigs and milk cows, playing near the river, and growing your own food in the garden, what better way to prepare for the future service she passed on to others. She became a Matriarch to over 50 nieces and nephews with so many stories of how proud she was of her wonderful childhood filled with the love of family, animals and great food! As a young teen, Barbara and her family moved to Sterling, Colorado where they were active in St Anthony’s Catholic Church. Her parents had been active in Catholic Churches everywhere they lived including many years at St Mary’s in Montrose. There should be a brick with her dad’s name on it in Montrose from 1911 when he helped work on the Church.
On July 10, 1960, Barbara married the love of her life, Donald Clarke Coster, from Buffalo, New York. Together they built a life in Southern California working and living at times in Long Beach, Laguna Beach, and San Clemente near numerous older siblings and their families. Eventually starting their own business there, they enjoyed traveling, designing and refurbishing homes, going out to eat and gathering with family. While Donald was boogie boarding at the beach, Barbara was planning yet another trip across the USA or to one of the numerous countries they visited around the world. Traveling for Barbara encompassed enormous opportunities. She enjoyed and was good at welcoming new family members, shopping for new clothes, shopping for local specialty items to ship back to her home such as Venetian glass, garden gnomes, furniture, artwork, or fabulous coats filling her closets. Her favorite places to travel were Europe and Hawaii. This classy lady may have had enough beautiful coats to keep a small country in Europe warm!
Barbara was intensely proud of her Volga German heritage and made sure the younger generation of family members knew about it. She’d send writings, books, pictures and stories of the Frank Family Lineage to all. A true genealogist for the entire family, which to her was a very important task she took on, to pass the knowledge and stories along. In turn, the younger family members made sure she kept up with the times; Starbucks red pepper egg bites, Dominoes pasta bowls, Almond M&M’s, and gummy bears just to name a few.
Upon retirement, Barbara and Donald left the ocean behind for the mountains of Montrose, Colorado where her parents first began their family life back in 1911. The year was 2000 and again, the philanthropy continued. She joined international women’s groups, St Mary’s Catholic Church, organized numerous fundraisers providing scholarships for teachers and nurses and even hosted political events in their home. Barbara lived 25 years in Montrose, Colorado in retirement. She had a fervor for life wherever she lived. Her fierce independence drove her to be of service throughout her life.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and every one of her siblings. Her passing marked the end of an era, the end of that generation. Her beauty and her strong-willed spirit lives on in each one of her descendants.
She is survived by one sister-in-law, Shirley Frank, in Anza, California and the legacy of many nieces and nephews along with their children.
Barbara Ann Frank Coster will be laid to rest in Sterling, Colorado next to her beloved husband and parents. A funeral mass will be held at St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Sterling, Colorado. Date and times yet to be determined.
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