Barbara Jean Cisco

Barbara Jean Cisco passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, ~ one month after her 93rd birthday.

Barbara was born in Logan, Utah on June 1, 1932. She was the oldest of three children born to Louis G. and Albertina Cronquist Pendleton. The family lived in a home her grandfather had built at the base of Old Main Hill just below the campus of Utah State University. They had a large garden and her dad, Grant, would often walk up to the first dam on the Logan River returning with brown trout which helped feed the family during the Depression.

After graduating from Logan High School, she became a nurse at the Tooele Army Depot. During the Korean War time, she once treated an Army cook who had sliced his finger severely one day preparing meals. This handsome soldier would become her husband a short time later. Ralph Cisco and Barbara Jean Pendleton were married February 2, 1952. They were together constantly for 65 years until Ralph’s passing in 2017. Their only son, Gregory Ralph, was born in Salt Lake on December 7, 1952.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, the young family split their time between San Diego and a dude ranch in Colorado. Ralph later decided to attend college and pursue a degree in forestry. Barbara elected to follow her passion and become a schoolteacher. Thanks to the GI bill and the use of Barbara’s parents’ house in Logan. Barbara and Ralph graduated from Utah State University in 1959 with degrees in Education and Forestry. Barbara first taught elementary school in Pleasantville, Utah and later in Hailey, Idaho. She was always an active member of the LDS church and taught classes in Seminary as well as numerous other church classes in both Hailey and Hagerman.

After college, the family moved to Idaho to allow Ralph to pursue his young career with the US Forest Service. Barbara was a gracious host to many, from fellow USFS workers to numerous dignitaries including the Chief of the Forest Service, the Secretary of Agriculture and several US Senators while they lived in Sawtooth Valley. Weekends in Sawtooth Valley often found Ralph, Barbara and Greg hiking and fishing in the Sawtooth and White Cloud mountains. Barbara went reluctantly on these legendary hiking trips, and always used to ask Ralph “How much further?” He would answer the same every time “Oh, about another quarter mile”.

After leaving Sawtooth Valley, Barbara and Ralph moved several times following Ralph’s career in the Forest Service. They lived in Richfield (Utah), Sparks (Nevada), San Diego and Lake Tahoe (California). Barbara always embraced every town the job took them to. In each of these towns, Barbara found ways to contribute to the communities. She volunteered as a Docent at a museum in San Diego and was a member of the Tahoe Basin Trail Advisory Committee. She always enjoyed opening her home and hosting family visits, especially when her grandsons were young. Their home in San Diego had a pool, which provided hours of enjoyment for both the boys and their grandparents. The family also enjoyed numerous visits to the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park and nearby beaches and tidal pool.

After retiring, Ralph and Barbara returned to the Wood River Valley and built a beautiful log home. This home provided a base for their many friends and family members to visit and enjoy various outdoor activities including skiing, fishing, horseback riding and home cooked meals. They lived for a time in Darby, MT. Once again, back in the mountains, they would host friends and families enjoying more of the outdoors. Eventually growing tired of winter in the mountains, they moved to Hagerman, Idaho. They acquired a lovely home with a waterfall on Riley Creek and a boat dock in their backyard.

Barbara and Ralph enjoyed traveling. As such, they took two trips to Alaska pulling their travel trailer. Barbara’s brother Ron and sister-in-law, Gay lived in Homer, Alaska at that time. On the first trip, they were joined by family members from California, including Ralph’s sister-in-law Eddie and her daughter Melissa; Melissa’s husband Stan and their daughters Sarah and Jessica. This same group also drove to see Mt. Rushmore. Of course, these road trips were filled with constant laughter, great food and companionship.

Barbara was truly a gifted artist working in quilting, hand crafted sweaters and oil painting. Anyone who is fortunate enough to have one of her quilts or sweaters can attest to her special talent. She was also a prolific reader, especially in her final years. She read over 80 books on her kindle as her sight began to fail.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Ralph and her brother: Bud Pendleton. Barbara is survived by her brother Ronald Scott (Gay), son Greg (Moira) Cisco, grandsons Christian (Kathy) and Aaron (Katie) and three great granddaughters; Kaycee, Claire and Tobie Anne born to Aaron and Katie. She will be laid to rest in Logan, Utah, next to her beloved Ralph and near members of Barbara’s ancestral family on Friday, 7/18/25. A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held in Hagerman in the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Hagerman Valley Historical Society at PO Box 86 Hagerman, ID 83332.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Barbara's memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com