Bessie McDowell, age 77, of Winner, SD, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. She rejoined her husband on the day of their 59th wedding anniversary.
Bessie was born on December 4, 1933, in Christian County, near Oldfield, Missouri. Bessie was born in her maternal grandmother's log cabin near Swan Creek. Bessie was the fourth child of Jesse and Lulu (Wolf) Patterson. Bessie grew up on her paternal grandparents' homestead in Major County, Oklahoma. Bessie graduated from Quinlan Oklahoma High School in 1952 as the valedictorian of her class.
Bessie met Kenneth McDowell on a blind date her senior year of high school. Kenneth and Bessie were married in a country church at Haskew, OK, on May 18, 1952. They spent 57 years together and raised seven children in South Dakota.
Bessie actively pursued her hobbies. Bessie loved gardening. She grew all kinds of flowers and houseplants as well as having a vegetable garden with fruit trees.
In retirement, Bessie developed a keen interest in family history. She spent thousands of hours carefully compiling her research. Bessie, along with Kenneth and their youngest daughter traveled frequently for about twenty years as she collected genealogy information and they met extended family members. Bessie journeyed east to Ohio, west to California, north into Canada and south to Texas, as well as all points in between as she searched for family records. She gained many new friends through her travels and research.
She is survived by her seven children, ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five sisters, and many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her grandparents, five uncles, two aunts, two brothers, and one sister.
Service will be held Monday May 23, 2011, at Mason Funeral Home. Burial will be Tuesday May 24, 2011, at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Bessie was born on December 4, 1933, in Christian County, near Oldfield, Missouri. Bessie was born in her maternal grandmother's log cabin near Swan Creek. Bessie was the fourth child of Jesse and Lulu (Wolf) Patterson. Bessie grew up on her paternal grandparents' homestead in Major County, Oklahoma. Bessie graduated from Quinlan Oklahoma High School in 1952 as the valedictorian of her class.
Bessie met Kenneth McDowell on a blind date her senior year of high school. Kenneth and Bessie were married in a country church at Haskew, OK, on May 18, 1952. They spent 57 years together and raised seven children in South Dakota.
Bessie actively pursued her hobbies. Bessie loved gardening. She grew all kinds of flowers and houseplants as well as having a vegetable garden with fruit trees.
In retirement, Bessie developed a keen interest in family history. She spent thousands of hours carefully compiling her research. Bessie, along with Kenneth and their youngest daughter traveled frequently for about twenty years as she collected genealogy information and they met extended family members. Bessie journeyed east to Ohio, west to California, north into Canada and south to Texas, as well as all points in between as she searched for family records. She gained many new friends through her travels and research.
She is survived by her seven children, ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five sisters, and many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her grandparents, five uncles, two aunts, two brothers, and one sister.
Service will be held Monday May 23, 2011, at Mason Funeral Home. Burial will be Tuesday May 24, 2011, at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Bessie McDowell, age 77, of Winner, SD, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. She rejoined her husband on the day of their 59th wedding anniversary.
Bessie was born on December 4, 1933, in Christian County, near Oldfield, Missouri. Bessie was born in her maternal grandmother's log cabin near Swan Creek. Bessie was the fourth child of Jesse and Lulu (Wolf) Patterson. Bessie grew up on her paternal grandparents' homestead in Major County, Oklahoma. Bessie graduated from Quinlan Oklahoma High School in 1952 as the valedictorian of her class.
Bessie met Kenneth McDowell on a blind date her senior year of high school. Kenneth and Bessie were married in a country church at Haskew, OK, on May 18, 1952. They spent 57 years together and raised seven children in South Dakota.
Bessie actively pursued her hobbies. Bessie loved gardening. She grew all kinds of flowers and houseplants as well as having a vegetable garden with fruit trees.
In retirement, Bessie developed a keen interest in family history. She spent thousands of hours carefully compiling her research. Bessie, along with Kenneth and their youngest daughter traveled frequently for about twenty years as she collected genealogy information and they met extended family members. Bessie journeyed east to Ohio, west to California, north into Canada and south to Texas, as well as all points in between as she searched for family records. She gained many new friends through her travels and research.
She is survived by her seven children, ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five sisters, and many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her grandparents, five uncles, two aunts, two brothers, and one sister.
Service will be held Monday May 23, 2011, at Mason Funeral Home. Burial will be Tuesday May 24, 2011, at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Bessie was born on December 4, 1933, in Christian County, near Oldfield, Missouri. Bessie was born in her maternal grandmother's log cabin near Swan Creek. Bessie was the fourth child of Jesse and Lulu (Wolf) Patterson. Bessie grew up on her paternal grandparents' homestead in Major County, Oklahoma. Bessie graduated from Quinlan Oklahoma High School in 1952 as the valedictorian of her class.
Bessie met Kenneth McDowell on a blind date her senior year of high school. Kenneth and Bessie were married in a country church at Haskew, OK, on May 18, 1952. They spent 57 years together and raised seven children in South Dakota.
Bessie actively pursued her hobbies. Bessie loved gardening. She grew all kinds of flowers and houseplants as well as having a vegetable garden with fruit trees.
In retirement, Bessie developed a keen interest in family history. She spent thousands of hours carefully compiling her research. Bessie, along with Kenneth and their youngest daughter traveled frequently for about twenty years as she collected genealogy information and they met extended family members. Bessie journeyed east to Ohio, west to California, north into Canada and south to Texas, as well as all points in between as she searched for family records. She gained many new friends through her travels and research.
She is survived by her seven children, ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five sisters, and many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her grandparents, five uncles, two aunts, two brothers, and one sister.
Service will be held Monday May 23, 2011, at Mason Funeral Home. Burial will be Tuesday May 24, 2011, at Black Hills National Cemetery.
