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plain hard work to survive. As a young woman, she accepted God into
her life. She joined a local church and took her children with her. She
was a hard working Mother. She loved flowers and made many quilts. She
raised large gardens and canned the produce. She raised chickens, baked
bread, and did her wash the hard way, on the board. Her pride and joy
was a wringer type washing machine (gas engine) purchased for her birthday.
With her family growing, they moved to a farm near Conway, Iowa. They
lived there until Turner's death. Bessie stayed there until it was just
too much hard work for her and the children to survive. She moved her
family into town, where she worked for the local telephone company for
several years and as a cook at the Taylor County Home.
Although there were many ups and downs, she saw to it that all her
children graduated from the Conway High School.
One of her saddest days was when her son joined the Navy and went
off to the Korean War. She thanked the Good Lord when everything worked
out fine.
Bessie knew Leland Stitt since grade school They met again and were
married on April 3, 1953 in Harrisonville, AR. She gained two more step-children,
Larry and Shirley.
They moved to Kansas City, Kansas where Leland worked for General
Motors. He preceded her in death on March 11, 1993.
Bessie leaves many loved ones to celebrate her life. Those include
a son, Jack Rusco and wife, Nancy, Pacific Junction, IA and their family,
Steve and Lorelei Rusco, Gravity, IA, Mike and Roxanne Rusco, Omaha, NB,
Robert Rusco, and Sue Rusco, both of Glenwood, IA; a daughter, Beverly
Gould, Carlisle, IA and her family, Randy and Barb Gould, Indianola, IA,
Joan and Phil Thomas, Omaha, NB, Ron and Michell Gould, Des Moines, IA,
Rick and Dorothy Gould, Carlisle, IA, Jeff and Mary Gould, Swan, IA, Diane
and Chris Hardy, Milo, IA; a daughter, Mildred Norton, Bedford, IA, and
her family, Jackie and Dennis McMillen and Paul Norton, all of Conway,
IA; a daughter, Peggy Jincks and husband, James, Jameson, MO, and their
family Dena and Terry McNeely, Jameson, MO, Royal's son, Jim Rusco, Bedford,
IA, Step-son Larry Stitt and wife, Julia, Pattonsburg, MO and their family,
Brad Stitt, Kansas City, MO and Dawn Stitt, Pattonsburg, MO; step-daughter,
Shirley Miller and husband, Jim, Belton, MO, brother, Dean Brown and companion,
Mary Lawrence Jones, Stanberry, MO; several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
She also was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harold and
Homer Brown; sisters, Jessie Peterson and Cuma Combs; son-in-law, Eldon
Gould and Robert Norton; step-daughter, Marjorie Christienson and husband,
Tom; Step-son Royal Rusco and wife, Bea; and four great-grandchildren.
Some of our fondest memories are of the Pink Farm, near Pattonsburg,
Missouri. Leland's folks lived there on the banks of the Grand River until
their passing. Leland and Bessie fixed up the property for a get-a-way
from city living. We didn't mind walking a quarter mile, in the mud. It
was the Pink Farm! However, we were overjoyed when they graveled the road.
We all gathered on weekends to fish, swim, have mud fights, get scared
by bats, and have fish frys. We also had some good old hot dog and marshmallow
roasts. We always picked wild berries and during the fall picked up walnuts
and hickory nuts. We all had good times and lots of memories.
When Leland retired, they moved to Jameson, Missouri on the banks
of the Grand River. He enjoyed fishing and she enjoyed cooking them, nobody
could fry fish better than Grandma Bess, just ask her grandchildren. As
her health failed, she went to live with her duaghter and son-in-law,
Peg and James. Leland stayed home until his death. They were married almost
forty years. She deteriorated and had a brief stay in a nursing home.
On her ninety-first birthday, Peg and James brought her home to stay.
She was happy with loved ones taking care of her.
We want to thank all the day nurses, visiting nurses, and Doctors
who took such good care of her. With a special thanks to Patti and Rachael.
Jack, Beverly, and Mildred want to thank Peg and James for giving up their
daily lives to take care of Mom these past years. It was your loving care
that kept her going. You did a wonderful job. Thank God, for our Mother,
we had her many years and loved her dearly.
Interment: Pattonsburg Memorial Gardens, Pattonsburg, Mo, July 3,
2004
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