DULUTH — The public funeral for the Barry family focused more on how the Barrys lived rather than their untimely deaths. The Marshall School auditorium was filled with friends, family and community members who had gathered to pay their respects to the family slain in their Duluth home.
Attendees filed in for the 1 p.m. funeral to honor Sean, 47, Riana, 44, Shiway, 12, and Sadie, 9 who died April 20. Authorities believe Brandon Taylor Cole-Skogstad, 29, who was living with the family, killed his aunt, uncle and their children before taking his own life.
“We’re here today to focus more on how the family lived and to give thanks for them as we search for comfort and continue to comfort one another,” said Chaplain Tab Baumgartner.
As they entered the auditorium, each attendee was given a small bottle of bubbles, which Sean’s mother Betty Barry later addressed.
“Sean has always reminded me of bubbles,” Betty said. “For many years, he bounced around until he met Riana, when he turned into a man.”
Sean spent many years traveling and working. He called Alaska home for 20 years, but also visited six out of the seven continents by the time he was 40.
“As sad as this has been for my family, for his friends, for everyone who knew this family, it’s important to remember that this family truly lived every day,” Betty said. “They lived every moment they could and the bubbles symbolize that.”
After she spoke, the auditorium was filled with bubbles blown by attendees in honor of the Barry family.
Friends and family members of Sean and Riana shared stories of their many adventures together. Baumgartner read a eulogy for Riana from friend of the family Nolita Christensen. Christensen touched on the many adventures she shared and heard about from Riana over the years including many trips between Minnesota and Alaska. She thanked Riana for her “nuggets of wisdom” over the years and confessional phone calls that they shared.
“Something she said often was ‘We can do hard things,’” Christensen wrote. “And we can do hard things. I only wish I didn’t have to do these hard things without my friend.”
Some attendees wore Girl Scout sashes in honor of Shiway and Sadie’s participation in the program. According to speaker Leigh Ann Davis, chief executive officer for Girl Scouts Lakes and Pines, both girls were very active participants. Sadie was known for selling 1,400 packages of cookies this year and Shiway loved attending Girl Scout horse camp.
“Sadie didn’t need much encouragement to sell cookies. She had a goal of someday being the biggest seller in the country,” Davis said. “She would approach shoppers in the mall and sell them packs of cookies. They couldn’t resist her bright smile and wanted to share in her joy.”
Family members also talked about Shiway’s love for guinea pigs, as she raised five on her own. She was also known for spending time outside on a swing and contemplating things in life.
“If Shiway were here today, she’d probably tell you to befriend a guinea pig and to spend some time on a swing,” Baumgartner said, while eulogizing the family.
Children who attended the funeral were given a donated stuffed animal to comfort them through the service. And attendees were encouraged to take a box of donated Girl Scouts Cookies as they left the service.
Music was provided by the Minnesota Saints Chorale and by a friend of the family. Funeral arrangements were provided by Dougherty Funeral Home.
