Barbara J. Allen (June 18, 1929 – October 31, 2018) was a lifelong Deadwood resident, devoted mother and Mayor of Deadwood.  Born in 1929, Barbara spent her formative years growing up in Deadwood and graduated from Deadwood High School in 1947.  Two years later she married Malcolm Allen on August 22, 1950 and raised two sons as part of this union.  During her professional career, Barbara worked for First National Bank of Deadwood as a bank teller and Black Hills Novelty as the business manager.
In 1989, Barbara was elected to the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission and served two terms as chairperson.  She also served on various local boards including the Deadwood Visitors Bureau, Northern Hills General Hospital, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Deadwood Economic Development and the Deadwood Parking Task Force.  In 1991 and again in 1993, Barbara was the recipient of the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce’s Nell Perigoue award.  In the civic area, Barbara was elected Mayor of Deadwood in 1995 and became the first woman to serve in this capacity.  Next to her family, Deadwood and its future was her greatest interest in life.  On October 31, 2018, Barbara died was buried in Deadwood’s Oakridge Municipal Cemetery.