ST. JOHN, Ind. — Barbara Jean Marchetti will celebrate her 92nd birthday on May 7.

She was born May 7, 1930, in Norway, the third girl of four born to Lucile and Florence Marchetti. Barbara loved the outdoors growing up in the Upper Peninsula especially the winter where the ice froze and she could go outside and skate.

She started competitive ice skating when she was four. She loved the thrill of racing around the track, competing and of course the win. She was the only woman in 1953 who won every major speed skating title on the continent.

Barbara married her best friend and biggest fan, Omer DeSchepper on May 23, 1953, at St. Mary Catholic Church. They raised their two boys in Michigan and now she resides in Indiana.