Barb Henoch, a beloved Rochester community member and volunteer, dies at 94

Rebecca Mitchell, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·5 min read

Feb. 26—ROCHESTER — Barb Henoch carried a special gift through her life: she cared.

"She had such a deep interest and love for people," described Linda Bonow of her longtime friend. "I have a photo of her having a conversation with the University of Minnesota chancellor, of a young student who's likely a new immigrant and Ronald McDonald. And she could carry on a lively conversation with any of those individuals on any given day."

As a well-loved community member, Henoch's friends will tell you "she loved life." She was compassionate, gracious, witty and generous, as Bonow described. Henoch died on Saturday, Feb. 17.

One of her main cares in life was the Ronald McDonald House Charities Midwest MN, WI, IA in Rochester, which supports families while their children are receiving medical care. She constantly worked to share about the House's programs and grow what could be offered to families and volunteers. It was a joy for her to share about a place where she "found comfort and purpose" after her first husband Bud Foster died, RMHC CEO Nick Mueller wrote.

"Barb Henoch and the Ronald McDonald House go hand-in-hand," Mueller said in an email. "As one of the most important and dedicated people in our organization's history, her commitment to the House shined bright. She was always present, providing tremendous love to the families who walked through our doors."

She "never wavered" to support people, whether helping children up the house's stairs, helping create a volunteer nourishment station or

campaigning to expand the House to 70 guest rooms,

Mueller described.

Henoch worked in many fields, from human resources to marketing and advertising for a newspaper and running a drive-in restaurant. She also volunteered with the American Cancer Society and Veterans Memorial Museum, according to her obituary.

"She was committed to high standards, high performance and just doing her best every single day. And she did," Bonow said. Bonow was the executive director of the Rochester Ronald McDonald House from 1991 to 2015.

Through friends in Rochester, Henoch met her second husband Phil Henoch. The late Phil Henoch

owned the McDonald's restaurants in Rochester from 1973 to 2001

and led the Northland House to Ronald McDonald House transition. The later expansion campaign introduced her to Jack Nelson, and the two married in 2018.

As a resident of Charter House, Henoch enjoyed her friendships, participating in activities and volunteering on the Residents Council and Spiritual Living Committee. She lived with enthusiasm, including enjoying dances and charity dinners and

offering a scholarship to young House volunteers.

"She loved to be social and many people knew Barb over the years in social settings and would enjoy sitting down and talking with her because she was always interested in what was happening in their life. What was new, what was exciting, what was challenging, what was difficult," Bonow said.

With her "life of service and generosity," Mueller saw her living out this phrase: "the meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose in life is to give it away."

"What I like best about Barb is that she is a wonderful person," a quote from her late husband Phil Henoch says in her obituary. "I like her integrity. There is nobody more sincere and who cares more about others than Barb."

Through her 94 years of life, Henoch journeyed in countries around the world, from her early years in East Africa where her father worked with the British Colonial Service to boarding school in England and vacationing across the United States, according to her obituary. She was proud to be a British and U.S. citizen, Bonow said.

"International travel provides Barb with countless opportunities to challenge her brain. She learned to speak Swahili in her past and thinks it would be fascinating to learn Spanish," Charter House Living magazine wrote. "During her trips to foreign countries, she uses translation bocks and a lot of hand gestures to communicate with locals."

"She loved people across the world. She loved to travel. She's very worldly and could be comfortable in any setting," Bonow said.

Henoch's travel experiences always helped her learn, including "patience, how to nurture others, how to ride with disappointments, and how to adapt to new situations" as well as "never to take anything for granted," according to her obituary. During her boarding school years in World War II, she lived apart from family for eight years and spent eight nights in a family's underground shelter when Liverpool was being bombed.

"She experienced so much and she was never one to dwell on adversity," Bonow said. "I think many people see Barb as perhaps having a very charmed life. She looked charming, she was charming. And far from it, her path ... for immigration, she started a business. She's just a very dedicated hard worker at whatever she would put her mind to."

In reflecting on phases of Henoch's life, Bonow said she was "Barb the gracious woman, Barb the mentor, Barb the guide, Barb who loved all people." She added the stories about Henoch are "never-ending."

"Barb's legacy at the Ronald McDonald House will live on through the volunteers, families, and staff who follow in her tremendous footsteps," Mueller wrote in an email. "The Ronald McDonald House was blessed with Barb's presence and support for more than three decades; the legacy she left will continue to impact children and families for years to come."