KEYSTONE:  Barbara June Powers Pickering Dreesman, 83, died Sunday, January 18, 2009 at her home following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, January 22, 2009 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Luzerne with Rev. Michael Musick officiating.  Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery in Keystone.  Friends may call from 3 to 7 PM on Wednesday at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone.
     Barbara was born October 15, 1925 near Staples, MN to Roy Myrl and Verna Lorraine (McFall) Powers.  She was raised in the Vinton/Garrison area.  On December 4, 1941 she married Albert "Swede" Pickering in Vinton.  After farming near Van Horne for 37 years, the couple purchased a home and retired in Keystone.  Albert passed away in April 1982 and Barbara married Ernest Dreesman on January 5, 1985.  Ernest and Barbara spent summers in Keystone and winters in Mesa, Arizona.
     Barbara was baptized and confirmed on May 27, 1952 by Rev. A. W. Wilkening at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and remained a member for several years.  She is presently a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Luzerne.  She was a long time member of the "Twelve Belles" potluck and loved to play cards, garden, cook, and dance.  She also enjoyed crafts, and owned a ceramic business for seventeen years.  However, her greatest pride and pleasure was her family.
     She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Albert; a son, Dewayne; a sister, Phyllis Brunssen; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Dallas Brunssen,  William Garbers, Sr,. Frank Clifton, Leonard, Roy, Evelyn, Ervin, Velma, Evelyn, George Jr., and Lester Pickerng, Norma and Charles Parizek, Howard Franzenburg, and Alice and John Fisher.
     She is survived by her husband, Ernest; daughters, Dianne (Richard) Pickart of Van Horne, Deborah (Douglas) Johnson of Bonita Springs, FL; sons, Derrick (Peggy) Pickering of Van Horne, Doyle (Sharon) Pickering of Mechanicsville; step-children, Tom (Connie) Dreesman of Tama, Don Dreesman of Dubuque, Mike (Tracy) Dreesman of Marion, and Janet Dreesman of Ames; 16 grandchildren, Randy (Kelly Jo) Pickart, Tracy (Rodney) Toney, Patrice (Brian) Strellner, Nicole (Joseph) Hoelz, Erin (Grey) Ingvalson, Anton Pickart, Michael (Dana) Johnson, Andrea (Shawn) McAleer, Christopher (Jessica) Pickering, Heather Pickart, Katy (Riley) Eckerman, Kimberly (Martin) Vered, Jarrod (Autumn) Pickering, Jason Pickering, Scott (Katie) Pickering, and Amber Pickering; 11 step-grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren; several step-great grandchildren; sisters, Lois Clifton and Carolyn Garbers; sisters-in-law, Maurice and Gerry Pickering; godchild, Spring Ohrt and numerous nieces and nephews.
     A Memorial fund has been established.
     "Today she dances with the Lord"