Barbara Linn/ Kroll Pillsbury Milne, of Malibu and Washington, D.C., died Sept. 27 surrounded by her family at the age of 69.
Milne graduated from Bemidji High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where she received a Bachelor of Science in home economics with a minor in journalism. Milne also earned a master’s degree in applied linguistics from Columbia University Teachers College and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Columbia University. She raised her two daughters, Heather and Kristina, in Malibu.
Milne’s career in cultural and medical anthropology spanned the globe, taking her to 100 countries. She worked toward global improvements through groundbreaking research and policy recommendations on women’s health and family planning issues in developing countries. Milne contributed to areas of international development, reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AIDS education, child survival and global gender issues. Never one to be left out of a conversation, she learned 13 languages, with a particular love for Chinese and Swedish. Additionally, she helped found six organizations, including two organizations in Los Angeles, and served on numerous boards of directors.
Milne is survived by her mother Edna (Engvall) Kroll of St. Louis Park, Minn.; her daughters Heather Milne (David) Cristman of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kristina Milne of New York City; her sisters Connie Kroll Skildum of Eagan, Minn., and Anne Kroll (Doug) Dahlen of Burnsville, Minn.; in addition to nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and countless friends and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her father Richard Kroll.
A celebration of life for family and close friends will take place on Oct. 13 at 6800 Westward Beach Rd. in Malibu at 10:30 a.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Molly Gingerich Fund (301.670.0994) or the SHARE Institute (theshareinstitute.org).