Barbara Test

Barbara Louise Test was born Sept. 8, 1940 in Mitchell, S.D., on a dairy farm and moved to a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota near Custer at age 8.
After graduating from Custer High School she received three degrees at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. She taught in the Denver, Colo., area for 32 years, beginning in 1962. She taught mostly English, reading and special education at the middle school level.  She continued her involvement in music (choirs and piano), writing, and studies in comparative religion, psychology and philosophy. She retired from full time teaching in 1994.
After that retirement she also became very involved in writing and performing poetry throughout Colorado and the  Black Hills, where she spent much of the summers at her cabin in Custer.  From 1994-2014 she taught part time as a substitute teacher and in a program for adults returning to finish their high school diplomas.
She was married twice (Riggs and Martin surnames) and was happily single, returning to her maiden name (Test) since 1976.
Her son, Sean Riggs, born in 1964, is a musician, music producer, and an international financial consultant and now lives in Pittsburgh, Pa., after living in Los Angeles, Calif., and Denver.  Her granddaughter, Alaina Riggs, born in 1990, lives in Denver and works in restaurant management and internet technology.  Her stepdaughter, Jaxzann Riggs, born 1958, owns and manages Mortgage Network in Denver.
Barbara died May 9, 2022. She was 81.
She was preceded in death by her parents who lived in Custer, father, Lawrence (Bud) Test (1905-99) and mother Lois Geise Test (1913-2007).
Barbara is survived by Sean Riggs of Pittsburgh, Pa.,  Alaina Riggs and Jaxzann Riggs of Denver; and siblings Marilyn Spear of Ijamsville, Md., and Rose Marie Saville of Wilder, Idaho.  
A Celebration of Life service will be held in Denver June 12 at the Mercury Café, where she spent many hours sharing poetry with those she loved.
In memory of Barbara, you may send a gift to the charity of your choice or to the Samaritan House Homeless Shelter at Catholic Charities, 6240 Smith Rd., Denver, CO 80216.