Bessie Wageman Grace, 85, of Twin Falls died at Bridge View Estates on March 12, 2012.
Our sweet mother went to be with her lord Jesus where there is no more pain and no more sickness for her. Bessie was born in the Township of Canfield, in North Dakota on August 7, 1926, one of eleven children born to Christian and Martha Docktor Wageman, her parents were German and had been sent to Russia, and then immigrated to North Dakota. Her family moved to Rupert Idaho where Mom always was taking care of her younger siblings where she developed a keen work ethic that followed trough out her life. We can’t remember a time mom not working, helping Dad in the fields, the A&P processing plant and in later years as a waitress, and all the while taking care of her kids and house hold with wonderful meals and a clean home to live in.
She graduated from Rupert High School in 1944 and in May of that year she married our father George Grace and so began a life of fishing, camping, great holiday dinners and more camping and fishing. They lived in Hailey Idaho for a time. Mom seemed to always be the “other” mother and we always had extra people at our house for dinner. Even with all the work that she did, she was always there for us kids, helping with Scouts with Jerry and Kenny or Campfire girls with Peggy.
She always advocated for the under dog at her jobs, and for people she met. She and Dad finally got to retire to do a little traveling and more camping and fishing. Dad died in 1988. Mom’s life was full of friends, family and grand children. She loved getting together with family and especially loved the Wageman reunions. She was a member of the Burley Elks Club “Does” where she kept busy with volunteering for various activities. She met and was married to Max Burton for a time. After that she lived in Twin Falls, at Woodstone where she liked to sleep in so she could eat breakfast with the staff. She loved to play Bingo and was always up for a Jackpot trip. Mom then lived at Oak Creek Rehab in Kimberly, and recently at Bridgeview. The family wants to thank both of these facilities for the love and care they gave to mom. They truly treated mom as family. You could say mom had life here, but now she has a glorious life with Jesus, with whom she found that wonderful peace. John 3:16
Mom is survived by her daughter Peggy (Mike) Connally of Twin Falls, her son Jerry (Pam) of Paul, grandchildren, Nate (Heather) Grace, Wesley Grace, and Philip Grace, Chad (Tammy) Connally, and the joy of her life her five great grandchildren, Shelby, Jarret, Ashley, and Challis and Chase. Bessie is also survived by her sister Violet Amen (Heyburn) also by her brothers Dewayne Wageman, (Burley), Chris Wageman (Jerome) and her sister in law Grace Hunt (Burley). She was preceded in death by her husband George, son Kenneth, her parents, brothers, Alvin Wageman, Roger Wageman, Vernon Wageman, sisters Tilley Vollmer, and Hilda Eades, also her baby brother and sister Walter and Margie.
Funeral Services will be conducted at Rosenau Funral Home and Crematory 2826 Addison Ave E, Twin Falls, Idaho on Saturday March 17, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Friends and Family are encourage to share memories at www.rosenaufuneralhome.com.