Barbara has deep family roots in Idaho. Her great grandfather travelled to Idaho in a covered wagon and settled outside Moscow. Both her parents and grandparents were Latah County farm families.
Barbara was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho. In 1977, she married Rick Dalessio. Barbara received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Magna cum Laude, from the University of Idaho, in 1979. In 1983, Barbara graduated from The University of Idaho School of Law in Moscow. Following her graduation, Barbara and Rick and their two young daughters moved to Boise where Barbara worked as a law clerk for the Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court and Rick obtained his teaching certificate.
In 1986, Barbara accepted an invitation to join the Sandpoint law firm Grudem, Verby, Elsaesser & Jarzabek. The family moved to Sandpoint. In 1988, Barbara became a partner in the firm. Rick worked first as a teacher, and then as a principal, throughout Bonner County.
On August 1, 1994, Barbara was appointed by the Idaho Magistrate Commission to fill the newly created second magistrate judge position in Bonner County. She served as a magistrate judge for 18 years.
On February 1, 2013, Governor Butch Otter appointed Barbara to the position of District Court Judge for Bonner and Boundary Counties. Barbara was honored to be the first woman to serve as a district judge in the First Judicial District.
On January 31, 2023, Barbara retired from her position as a full-time district judge. She is currently serving as an Idaho senior judge with a commitment to work 60 days a year.
Barbara and Rick will celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary in May. They are the parents of two daughters and the doting grandparents of seven beautiful grandchildren.
