Barbara (Vance) Alfange, 93, died on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Greenfield, Massachusetts.  She was born in Pierre, South Dakota, on October 8, 1932, the daughter of Lanky (Earl) and Pat (Velma Whitney) Vance.  Her parents were avid nature lovers, with her mother, Pat, known for her sprawling flower gardens and a yard of plentiful birds.  Thus, started Barbara’s own love affair with nature, especially bird watching.  

After graduating from Pierre High School, she continued her education at the University of Colorado, where she met her husband of 64 years, Dean Alfange. In 1967, Barbara and Dean moved from Lehigh, Pennsylvania, to Leverett, Massachusetts, where Barbara worked for Smith College and ran a rare book business, specializing in literature by women, and Dean was professor of constitutional law and civil liberties and Dean of Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Acting Provost at the University of Massachusetts.

Barbara was a member of the Leverett Conservation Commission, committee chairman for Leverett Bicentennial Celebration, a devoted volunteer at the Greenfield Food Pantry, a trustee of the Leverett Library, and founder of the Friends of the Leverett Library. She was a longtime and instrumental advisory board member of Paris Press, suggesting literary works by women for the press to acquire, proof reading, and assisting with the press’s archives. In addition, she served as a program coordinator for Round the World Women, which connected international women, students, and non-students with volunteers from the greater Amherst community.

Along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins, she leaves many lifetime friends who will miss her dearly. She will be remembered for her wit, her passion for jazz, the visual arts, Scrabble, and democracy (supporting the recent No Kings rallies by holding up her handmade sign at the entrance to the Arbors).

There will be a celebration of Barbara’s life in May 2026 to be announced at a later date. 

Donations in her honor may be made out to the Montague Reporter, 177 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, the Leverett Library, or the Greenfield Food Pantry.

Roughly 15 miles west of Aberdeen sits a unique business in the small community of Mina. South Dakota Baskets Unlimited, however, was first established nearly four decades ago in Hub City.

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