Respected Champion of Children, Health and Wellness
There are some who leave an indelible footprint on your heart, and in doing so, your life. All who knew Barb King, co-founder and president of Landscape Structures, Inc., will miss her dearly. Barb passed away on March 4, 2008, at home with her family, after a courageous seven-month battle with cancer. She was a young 61, and her youthful spirit was enjoyed by all who were fortunate enough to know her. It’s hard to do justice to such a person in a magazine article, but here are a few things Barb accomplished in her dedicated advocacy for enhancing lives.
For more than 30 years, Barb has been an active advocate at the local, state, and national levels for enhancing the lives of all people, especially children and families.
Barb co-founded Landscape Structures with her husband, Steven King, in 1971. Since that time, the family-owned company has introduced many playground innovations that changed the playground industry. Barb headed up the sales and marketing area, oversaw the manufacturing operations of the company, and worked closely with staff on a day-to-day basis.
Barb advocated an open, friendly, and empowering culture at Landscape Structures that focused on continuous improvement (kaizen). She ensured that every one of the more than 300 employees had an equal voice in suggesting change, improvement, and progressive action for the company. Barb was a very familiar face, both in the office and out on the shop floor, and always had a smile for all.
Born in Illinois, Barb graduated from Iowa State University in 1968, with a degree in Food Science. She had a life-long passion for healthy living, better nutrition, and creating healthy and sustainable lifestyles for children, families, and communities.
Barb served on several boards of directors, including Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Landscape Architecture Foundation, National Association of Women Business Owners, and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Board of Trustees.
Barb received numerous state and national awards during her career. She was selected Woman Business Owner of the Year for the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She was inducted as an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 2004. Barb was also nominated and awarded membership on the “Committee of 200” Professional Women’s Organization. In 2005, Barb, along with her husband, Steve King, received the Christian Petersen Design Award from Iowa State University’s College of Design. In 1994, in partnership with her husband, Barb received the Small Business Person of the Year award for the six-state Midwest region.
“Barb’s death is, first of all, a tragic loss for her family, and for all of us at Landscape Structures. She was a tremendous part of who we are as a company and had an incredible passion and zest for everything she did. She was unfailingly optimistic, and her curiosity and love of learning and life were contagious,” states vice president Pat Faust. “It was amazing—anyone who had even the briefest interaction with her was profoundly affected. To say she’ll be missed is a huge understatement.”
One of Barb’s proudest achievements was founding the Säjai Foundation in 2006. This national nonprofit organization promotes healthy lifestyles and healthy futures for children and families. She served on the board and was a primary benefactor.
As founder, she was passionate about the mission and goals of the foundation. She strongly believed that we can all make a difference in the lives of children, and can combat the tide of childhood obesity. Through the foundation, she worked to be a catalyst for change, educate children, and help them on their journey to a healthier life. Through the foundation, she also helped produce relevant research that can help schools, youth-based organizations, and communities to better serve children, and promote healthier futures.
Barb enjoyed and respected all aspects of the natural world and had a strong connection with the outdoors. She loved spending time at her North Woods cabin with her husband Steve, her daughter Erin with her husband Mark, her son Adam with her wife Tara, and granddaughters Isabelle and Charlotte. She also enjoyed relaxing at her home in Florida and traveling to new places. Barb was a very spiritual person and she believed in the healing power of nature. She respected a wide variety of cultures and traditions and saw the goodness in all people. She positively influenced many, both directly and indirectly, through her work and on a personal level. She was a truly unique individual and will leave an empty space in the world.
Barb will be grieved and missed by her coworkers, employees, and all who were fortunate enough to work with her on a daily basis. She is survived by her loving and supportive husband of 40 years, Steve King, son Adam King (Tara), daughter Erin King (Mark), and her two treasured granddaughters, Isabelle and Charlotte.
All memorials should be directed to Barb’s private foundation:
The Säjai Foundation
Attn: Melissa Hanson
6458 Vagabond Lane North
Maple Grove, MN 55311
