Barbara Updike Fleming

life story

Barbara Updike Fleming, 83, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025, in Woodbury, MN.

Barbara was born on July 23, 1941 in Trenton, New Jersey. Barb married her high school sweetheart, Peter Barry Fleming, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Most of her adult life was lived in Woodbury, Minnesota (around 58 years) with her husband Pete of over 60 years. They raised five children together. Barb earned a degree in elementary education from Syracuse University, and started working as an elementary school teacher. As kids were added to the family she chose to stay at home and pursue her passion for education in other ways by serving as South Washington County School Board Chair, substitute teaching and serving the community as Woodbury Athletics Association director. She and Pete spent four years living in South Ascot, England for Pete's 3M job placement. During this time Barb participated and organized events for the American Wives Club, started a girls softball program at the school her kids attended and fell in love with the ways of the British. When she returned to MInnesota, she continued to serve her community through substitute teaching. She also collected and sold antiques out of her home and in a store partnership with a friend. As one may imagine, Barb did not stop! She was rarely idle. Her days were full, and her nights were late. Barb pursued her interests passionately and wholeheartedly.

Barb was energized through spending time with people, especially those closest to her. Barb was a superior hostess and entertained friends and neighbors often through summer volleyball and barbecues on Sundays, dinners at their beautiful home, annual Christmas and Oktoberfest parties and Easter egg hunts.

She was generous, inclusive and had a heart for helping those in need. Barb loved her church and fellowship at Woodbury Lutheran Church. She was a devoted servant to missions and coffee hospitality for nearly 20 years.

She loved adventure and sport. Barb enjoyed many activities during her life and especially enjoyed doing them with friends and family, including camping, hiking, skiing, tennis, biking, yard work, time in their swimming pool, trips to Big Sky, Montana and the Jersey Shore.

For most people, keeping up with Barb was not possible, however, to not be inspired by her youth and life-giving force was impossible.

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and the many people whose lives she touched.

She is survived by her husband, Peter Fleming; her children, Jeffrey Fleming (Lori), Kascinda Fleming, Dianne Fleming, Elizabeth Dunham (Tad), and Patrick Fleming (Kayla); and her grandchildren: Matthew Fleming, Jason Fleming, Lucy Fleming, Gradey Cashin, Sid Cashin, Austin Dunham, Spencer Dunham, Boden Fleming, and Callan Fleming. She is preceded in death by her parents Harold and Cora (Gaddis) Updike and her sister Sandra Jarvie.

memorial service

Celebration of Life visitation, service, and reception.

May 30, 2025

Woodbury Lutheran Church - Valley Creek Campus 7380 Afton Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125, USA

9:30-11:00am visitation

11:00am - 12:00pm service

12:00pm reception/luncheon

The 11:00 service will have a livestream available at:

funeral.wlc.church

(this link may have other content until around 10:50am)