Obit: Bessey, Willis "Bill" #1 (1921 - 2007)

Transcribed by: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Bessey, Detert, Breijcha, DeAmicis, Rohrbaugh, Kniess, Haugen

---Source: Foto News (Merrill, Lincoln Co., Wis.) Wednesday, 10 Oct. 2007; page 10

---Bessey, Willis "Bill" (13 Jan. 1921 - 10 Aug. 2007)

Willis Bessey

Willis "Bill" Bessey, 86, of Ashton, Idaho, died Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at the Ashton Living Center.

Bill was born Jan. 13, 1921, in Merrill, to Herbert and Frieda Detert Bessey.

Bill grew up with a love and appreciation of music; he played the tuba in high school band and later played the string bass in the orchestra.

He worked at Lockheed Boeing before joining the U.S. Navy during WWII. He also worked for a time for the Civilian Conservation Corps.

After the war, Bill married Josephine Breijcha of Antigo. They were blessed with 61 years together. They went to Idaho on their honeymoon and never left. Starting at Mack's Inn, Bill managed a gas station. In 1957 they moved to Ashton, Idaho, where Bill operated a Texaco-Husky gas station for many years.

One of Bill's hobbies was woodworking. In addition to making things for his family, he also undertook many woodworking projects at Zion Lutheran Church in Ashton where he was an active member and served on the board of trustees.

The other great love of his life was flying. He obtained his private pilot's license and spent many hours in the air as well as flying down to the Gulf of Mexico for occasional fishing trips with friends.

Bill is survived by his wife Josephine, Ashton, Idaho; daughters Linda (Jan) DeAmicis (son Justin), New Hartford, N.Y.; and Megan Rohrbaugh, Keiser, W.V.; sons Rev. Ted (Cindy) Bessey (daughters Rachel and Samantha), Mountain Lake Park, Mass.; and John, Ashton, Idaho; and brother Thomas, Seattle, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Grace Bessey and Ruth (Harold) Kniess; and brothers Grant of Ashton, Idaho; and John "Jack," of Avinger, Texas.

Funeral services were Aug. 17 at Zion Lutheran Church, Ashton, Idaho. Rev. Daniel Haugen presided and Rev. Theodore Bessey assisted. Interment was in Ashton Pineview Cemetery.

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