Barbara Jean Harder

Barbara Jean (Richards) Harder

79, of Banta, IN passed away on Wednesday May 24, 2023 at home, on her farm which has been in her family since 1868. Barbara lived on this farm her whole life. She was born on March 1, 1944 in Indianapolis, IN to the late Kenneth and Roselie (Dressler) Richards.

She considered herself a farmer. She raised cattle, grain, hay and straw and she was in the middle of it all. She was a 1962 graduate of Mooresville High School. In addition to working on the farm during high school, she worked at Hill Top Beach in Banta. She also worked in accounting and administration for Inland Container, Creative Packaging and Eli Lilly.

She was a lifetime member of the Banta Community Church. On November 25, 1973, she married Neal W. Harder at the Banta Community Church. In 1987 Barbara and Neal decided that Barbara should stay home on the farm to help her mother and her father. Neal was to join them on the farm in 1990.

Barbara was known for her athletic ability, whether it was playing basketball, bowling, golfing or playing slow pitch softball with the Indianapolis Cappettes. The Cappettes traveled to Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati and other points East and South. While playing with the Cappettes, she started a friendship with Clara Caito, which lasted 50 plus years. Clara came to see Barbara the day before she died.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Neal W. Harder; stepsons Christopher (Lesley) Harder, of Mooresville, IN, Michael (Nichol) Harder of Banta, IN; five step grandchildren Adrienne, Allison, Dylan, Landon, and Cade; nine step great grandchildren; 1 step great great grandchild and her beloved Border Collie mix, B.J.

Family and friends will gather for Barbara’s Life Celebration® visitation on Tuesday, May 30^th from 11:30am-2:30pm at the Banta Community Church, with the services beginning at 2:30pm Tuesday in the church. Burial will follow the services in I.O.O.F Cemetery, Waverly, IN.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Carlisle Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville. Please visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.