Bessie L. Sampson
POLSON — Bessie L. Sampson, 96, of Polson died on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan.
Bessie was born Sept. 28, 1909, in White Earth, N.D., to Lewis and Bell (Weltha) Anderson. The family moved to Iowa for a short time, then back to North Dakota where her father drove the White Earth-Powers Lake Stage.
In 1919, Bessie, her parents, two sisters and two brothers arrived in Polson after riding a steamboat across Flathead Lake from Somers. One of her best memories of the trip was the beautiful yellow flowers that were blooming. Everywhere (dandelions). She graduated from Polson High School and in 1931 received her degree in Education from Dillon Normal School. From 1931 to 1932, she taught school in Swan Lake, but would go home to Polson on the weekends.
The East Shore Road, Highway 35, was so narrow then that the bus would have to honk at every curve to warn vehicles coming from the other way to pull over so they could pass. In 1932, Bessie married Elmer Sampson in Polson where they had five daughters. Beatrice, twin to Berniece, died in infancy in 1933.
From 1945-46, she taught school in Ronan and 1946-1974, she was a second grade teacher in Polson. After retirement, Bessie taught English to Vietnamese families and helped to make hundreds of quilts to send to Third World countries. She loved to travel to see family, and with friends to new and exciting places.
Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Elmer, sisters Margaret Star and Mabel Roskie, brothers Arnold Anderson and Kenneth Anderson, daughters Beatrice Sampson and Berniece Espeland, and her grandson Kirk Edison.
Surviving are her daughters Eleanore Hasley and husband Ron of Rockford, Ill., Gayleen Edison of Stockton, Calif., Carol Sherick and husband Dave of Polson; son-in-law Richard Espeland of Huntley; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren and two step-great-great-grandchildren.
Bessie was the oldest living member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, having been a member for over 85 years. She remembered when the stain glass windows were made for the sanctuary in memory of loved ones, and that she and four other girls, who made up the Luther League, sold homemade candy to pay for the beautiful round window that is now above the door.
Bessie was a great teacher, super sister, and friend and the best mother you could have. We will miss you, Mother.
A special thank-you from our family to the loving, caring and devoted nurses, aides and staff at St. Joseph Retirement Community and St. Luke Extended Care Facility.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with the Rev. Paul Rowold officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery. A reception in the Friendship Hall of the church will follow the graveside services.
Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson.