Barbara Lu (Neeley) Yalich

Barbara Lu Neeley Yalich was born in Jetmore, Kansas on December 10, 1930, to Kenneth A. Neeley and Alice Rasmussen Neeley. She had two younger brothers, Curt and Mike. The family moved from Kansas to Colorado Springs, CO, to escape the Dust Bowl. Yalich’s formal education went all through downtown public schools of Colorado Springs, including Helen Hunt Elementary School, North Junior High School, and Colorado Springs High School which later changed to Palmer High School. She had a profound interest in music and played the piano for choir and concerts while growing up and her leadership skills began during school as a Rainbow Girl. When she started at Colorado College she intended to be a music major. She also joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority during her freshman year and remained a member for her life. After marrying Milo Yalich on November 24, 1950, she left college and began their life together. They made their home in Colorado Springs.

Yalich continued with her love of music by giving piano lessons. Her professional career started at the Pike’s Peak Mental Health Association. During this period of time in 1971, she was elected to The Colorado College Board of Trustees. In 1973 she resigned from the Board of Trustees to accept the position of Director of Alumni Support at Colorado College. She successfully moved up the Development ladder. Then in 1991, she and two other female colleagues were appointed by then President Gresham Riley to Vice President positions, making them the first three women in Colorado College history to hold these positions within the administration. Yalich finished her tenure at the college in1994 as Vice President in charge of Development and College Relations. Following her retirement, she was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from the trustees of the college.

One of Yalich’s passions throughout her life was volunteering and being elected to various foundations such as being elected the President of the Association of Junior Leagues (AJLA) and an advisory position with the In As Much Foundation. She received recognition and awards for her community service from several boards and community organizations including the Myron Stratton Home Board, the Wells Fargo Bank Board, United Bank, Junior Achievement Laureate, Citizens Goals, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Makepeace Community Trustee Award, Grace Church, Palmer High School Hall of Fame and Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame. In 2010, she was one of the founders of Innovations in Aging Collaborative. This effort was to connect the local aging population with resources and opportunities across the Pikes Peak region. This program was the first of its kind. The most recent honor bestowed on her was the naming of the Mike and Barbara Yalich Student Services Center attached to the Ed Robson Arena on The Colorado College campus in 2021. This honor was made possible by the In As Much Foundation and Bob Ross who is the Chairman and CEO of the Foundation.

Yalich was always happiest when she was surrounded by her family. Her celebrations of any holiday were legendary, especially the infamous Yalich lamb roasts of which have been passed down as a Serbian family tradition. She loved to travel with Milo around the United States and many countries throughout the world. She continued to travel with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren into her 90s. She loved her pets and even in her final moments was with her loving cat Machka.

She was proceeded in death by Milo the love of her life in 2010 prior to their 60th wedding anniversary. She is survived by two children, Nicholas (Betty) Yalich of San Rafael, CA and Jan (Don) Betts of Driggs, ID, two grandchildren Kelley (Kenny) Betts of Dayton, WA and Nicholas (Christen) Betts of Memphis, TN, two great grandsons Quinlan and Nikola, brothers Curt (Angie) Neeley of Colorado Springs, CO and Mike (Kay) Neeley of Colorado Springs CO, a nephew and nieces and several great nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Shove Chapel on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Free parking for the service will be available at the Ed Robson Arena off of Dale Street. There will be a shuttle to Shove Chapel.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Colorado College Mike and Barbara Yalich Student Services Center, the Colorado College Hockey Program or the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.