Barbara Thingstad

Barbara “Babs” Kathryn Thingstad, 74, of Shelby, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2026, at Columbus Community Hospital, surrounded by the love of her family.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 8th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on August 11, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelby, with Father Anthony Bedient officiating.  Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

Following burial at the cemetery all are invited to the Shelby Legion Club for a time of fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, plants, statues, etc., the family requests memorials be directed to the family for the establishment of a college scholarship fund in Babs’ name to benefit girls involved in golf.

Babs was born on April 7, 1952, in Shelby, Nebraska to Raymond and Viola (Gilsdorf) Wombacher.  She grew up in Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School.  On February 14, 1975, Babs was united in marriage to Allen Thingstad.  They were blessed with three children, Clifford, Dawn, and Allen.

Babs was a strong woman with a strong personality, a strong work ethic, and an even stronger love for the people who mattered most to her. She was not someone who sat on the sidelines. She showed up. She worked hard, helped where she was needed, and rarely needed to be asked twice.

After approximately 35 years at Vishay-Dales Electronics, Babs retired—but slowing down was never really her style. She continued working at the Pawnee Bar and spent countless hours volunteering at the school, senior center, church, and with Meals on Wheels. If something needed to be done, Babs was usually the person who could be counted on to get it done.

Babs loved staying active and was always ready for a little competition. She was an avid golfer, pitch player, softball player, bowler, and devoted Husker fan. She brought energy and determination to everything she did and especially enjoyed being surrounded by people.

One of Babs’ greatest passions was coaching softball. She found tremendous joy in teaching and leading young women and encouraging them to believe in themselves and achieve more than they thought possible. She expected hard work and commitment, but she also made sure the young women she coached knew that someone believed in them. For many, Babs became much more than a coach; she became someone they remembered for the confidence and encouragement she gave them.

Babs loved honestly and completely. She was never one to sugarcoat things, and if you knew her, you knew she was going to tell you exactly what she thought. She believed in being honest, standing your ground, working hard, and doing what was right. You might not always get the answer you wanted from Babs, but you could always count on getting the truth. Her honesty came from a place of love, and she was fiercely protective of the people she cared about.

Above all else, Babs treasured her family. Being a grandmother and great-grandmother brought her tremendous joy. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, watching them grow, cheering them on, and making memories together. She especially enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to play cards, passing along the games, the strategies, and, naturally, a little of her competitive spirit.

She leaves behind more than memories. She leaves behind lessons about hard work, loyalty, perseverance, honesty, and the importance of showing up for the people you love. She leaves behind generations of family who will carry pieces of her with them—in the way they work, the way they compete, the way they care for others, and perhaps most importantly, the way they love their families.

If you heard her laugh, you knew the double knee slap was coming. It was unmistakably Babs, just like her strength, her honesty, her determination, and her ability to make her presence known wherever she went.

Babs lived her life with her whole heart. She worked hard, loved fiercely, spoke honestly, and never hesitated to show up for the people she cared about. She will be deeply missed, but the lessons she taught, the people she encouraged, the lives she touched, and the love she gave will continue through the generations who knew and loved her.

Barbara is survived by:

Son – Clifford (Clara) Thingstad of Lincoln, NE

Grandchildren – Darrin, Kaylean (Nick Thate), Alex, and Natalie

Great Grandchildren – Cooper & Levi

Daughter – Dawn (Jesse) Koch of Hartington, NE

Grandchildren – Lucas, Kameron, and Macie

Son – Allen (Brittney) Thingstad of Norfolk, NE

Grandchildren – Trisha, Harlie, Cohen, and Kyler

Brother – Rick (Peggy) Wombacher

Brother – Danny (Bev) Wombacher

Brother – Barry (Marilyn) Wombacher

Sister – Marla Prososki

Sister – Peg (Dave) Rock

Brother – John (Julia) Wombacher

Barbara was preceded in death by:

Parents – Raymond & Viola Wombacher

Husband – Allen Thingstad

Twin brothers – Robert & Joseph Thingstad

Brothers – Lonnie, Kenny, Donnie, Steve, and JR Wombacher

Sister - Jane Wombacher

Sister – Ann Kammer