Strathcona - Bessie Lorenson, 90, died Saturday, September 4, 1999 at the Greenbush Nursing Home.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 11 at Grace Evangelical Church in Strathcona with Rev. Bob Ludwig officiating. Pat Ludwig was the organist, and vocalists were Vernon Lorenson, Jim Gjovik and Bonnie and Melvin Hanson. A piano solo was presented by Pastor Ludwig. Casketbearers were Tommy Hanson, Harvey Hanson, Chrest Hamness, Eldor Lorenson, Merle Lorenson and Ronnie Lorenson. Interment was in the Lorenson Family Cemetery in Strathcona with the Collins Funeral Home of Greenbush in charge of the arrangements.
Bessie Marie Gillis was born on February 9, 1909 at Hamilton, ND, the daughter of James and Lily (Wilson) Gillis. She grew up and attended school at Hamilton and in 1923 was united in marriage to John Martini at Hamilton. The couple farmed near Hamilton and then moved to Drayton, ND where they owned and operated a restaurant for several years. They moved to Bathgate and later were both employed in the shipyards at Portland, OR during World War II. In 1944, the couple began farming near Strathcona. John died in February of 1946.
In July of 1947, Bessie was united in marriage to Peder Lorenson, and they farmed near Strathcona until 1970. Pete died on September 30, 1973, and Bessie moved into Strathcona in 1974. In 1997, she moved to the Greenbush Nursing Home.
She was a long-time member of Grace Evangelical Church of Strathcona where she was active in church affairs.
Bessie is survived by one daughter, Louise (Berdean) Knutson of Greenbush; one son, Elmer (Lorene) Martini of Coon Rapids; six stepdaughters, Agnes (Oscar) Olson of Gilbert, Gladys Rynning of Hallock, Alice Anderson of Strathcona, Millie Sumner of Sullivan, MO, Ardyce Dahl of Northwood, ND, and Olga Hamberg of Mesa, AZ; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; four great great-grandchildren; one sister; Olive Shepherd of Sumner, WA; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, John and Pete; one son, Ralph; one daughter, Deloris; one sister; and one grandchild. A00003B1999SP15