Barbara Tonihka

Barbara Sue Tonihka, 78, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered into the presence of the Lord on August 12, 2026, at her home with her family by her side.

Barbara was born on May 30, 1948, in Talihina, Oklahoma to J.D. and Nellie (Gipson) Shomo. Barbara married Johnny Lee Tonihka on February 11, 1971. Barbara attended Business school in Dallas, Texas, where she earned her Executive Secretarial certificate and worked one year for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She was blessed to be a stay-at-home mother and homemaker. Barbara lived in Okmulgee, Norman, and Durant before she returned to Broken Bow, 36 years ago.

Barbara accepted Christ as her Savior in 1982. She loved serving the Lord. Barbara was a member of Grace Indian Baptist Church in Calera, Oklahoma and later, Myrtlewood Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and even served as the VBS director. She was active with the WMU and loved to do mission work. She was fortunate enough to go on mission trips to North Dakota and Florida. She put great emphasis on outreach and soul winning. Her true passion was being youth director and she worked closely with her sister, Betty, to lead the youth. Barbara loved attending church camps, like Falls Creek and KBA , as well as youth rallies. She loved teaching the youth group skits to perform and loved planning the church's Easter and Christmas programs. She raised her children in church and introduced them to Jesus Christ and His love. She led by example and taught her granddaughters "life lessons" and how to always be gracious because God is gracious.

Barbara's greatest joys in life were her family and serving the Lord. She cherished every opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren, and supported them in everything they did. She was their biggest fan.

Barbara loved reading, doing puzzles, crossword puzzles, playing cards, Bible trivia, riding around, traveling with her girls, Choctaw hymns, dancing, listening to music and watching K-Dramas.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her grandparents, Robert Gipson and Louisiana Jacob, Frank Shomo and Mary Jean Henderson; her brothers, Johnny, Stanley and Virgil Shomo; her sisters, Betty McKinney and Margie Going; brother-in-law, Silas McKinney, Jr.; nephews, Michael Martin, Jay Crosby, Sonny, Bradley, Casey and James McKinney; nieces, Allison McKinney, Beverly Wilson, and Shannon Mendez.

Barbara is survived by her children, Adrienne Gregory and husband, David of Bethel, Alaska, Annette Choate and husband, Russell of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Johnny Tonihka Jr. and wife, Kayla of Durant, Oklahoma, and Jeremy (Bear) Tonihka of Durant, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Ashlyn and Brooklyn Choate, and Johnny Tonihka, III (Tripp); great-grandson, Bryar Byington; brothers, Robert, Jimmy, David and Marcus Shomo; sister, Linda Shomo; special nephews, Christopher and Gabriel Shomo; numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Barbara will be forever loved and deeply missed.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Wayne Scott officiating. Interment will take place at the Denison Cemetery in Idabel, Oklahoma. No visitation is planned. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com

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