Barbara Jo Bierman Batie passed away at home with family at her side on her favorite holiday, December 25, 2025. 

She was born on September 9, 1958, to Clarence and Ruth (Spengler) Bierman at Norfolk, Nebraska. She was raised on a small crop and dairy farm outside Battle Creek, NE. As a child she was active in Madison County 4-H, cooking, sewing, showing her dairy cows and competing in 4-H demonstrations and song contests.

She was on the inaugural Battle Creek High School girls’ basketball team in 1974. She was a delegate to Girls State in 1975. After graduating from Battle Creek High School in 1976, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in Home Economics and Journalism. While a student, she served as the Nebraska Dairy Princess for one year and was a Homecoming Candidate in 1978.

In 1980 she became a representative from the United States to West Germany for the International Farm Youth Exchange, now called IFYE, for 6 months staying on 7 farms across West Germany.

Upon returning to Nebraska her first job was at the Tr-City Tribune where she met her future husband at her first interview, although they didn’t date for several years. During her career as a journalist, she wrote articles and a personal column for many newspapers and magazines, including the Tri-City Tribune, Lexington Clipper-Herald, Cozad Local, Norfolk Daily News, North Platte Telegraph, Scottsbluff Star Herald and the Midwest Messenger. She also wrote and prepared the presentations for the Lexington and the Cozad Chambers of Commerce Farm Families of the Year for many years.

On May 26, 1985, Barb married her best friend and life partner Don Batie at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Battle Creek. She and Don lived and farmed on his family’s farm north of Lexington until her death. She was very active in Trinity Lutheran Church of Lexington, serving in many roles in the church and LWML both locally and district wide.

Barb was also heavily involved in many organizations in Lexington and across the United States including serving as a Band Mom for the Lexington High School Marching Band, Majestic Theatre, Plum Creek Community Players, Horseshoe Bend 4-H Club, Lexington Business and Professional Women, Nebraska Press Women, Dawson County and Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska IFYE Alumni, Nebraska Environmental Quality Council, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Nebraska Women’s Leadership Network, Nebraska Council of Alumni Ambassadors, Nebraska Ag Builders, Nebraska Agricultural Hall of Fame, IFYE Association of the USA and Nebraska Sesquicentennial Commission to name a few.

She is survived by her husband Don Batie of Lexington, daughters Juliana (Doug) Loudon of Overton, Cicely Batie of Lincoln, grandchildren Dorne and Charlotte, brother Ray (Lauri) Bierman of Fremont, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and so many friends.

She is preceded by her parents Clarence and Ruth Bierman and her parents-in-law Warren and Leta Batie.

Visitation will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, from 5-7 pm at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington at 2 pm. The service will be livestreamed via the Trinity Lutheran Church website: Trinity Lutheran Church Homepage

 Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery northeast of Lexington.

Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church, Dawson County 4-H Foundation, Plum Creek Community Players or the IFYE Association of the USA.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com