Clarence "Cass" Besse

Clarence (Cass) Besse, age 90, died Monday, July 10, 2006, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin, Minnesota. He was born December 15, 1915, to Fred J. and Augusta (Lee) Besse in Garske, North Dakota. He graduated from Starkweather High School and farmed in the Starkweather and Crocus areas in North Dakota. He was employed by Peavey Company as an elevator manager for 37 years in Crocus, Ellsberry, Starkweather and Devils Lake. He retired in 1975 and then worked part-time for 10 years for the Lake Region Credit Bureau. He married Viola Wood of Crocus, North Dakota, in 1937; and they had four children: LaMoure (Pat) Besse of Bismarck, North Dakota; Austia (Joe) Hickey of Dearborn, Michigan; Richard (Jill) Besse of Wasilla, Alaska; and Bonnie (Tim) Rietz of Austin, Minnesota. He has 8 grandchildren: April Swenson, John Besse, Eliot Lee, Megan Besse, Adam Besse, Heidi (Jason) Kimmel; Heather Rietz (Jesse Winsell); and Mindy (Ian) Fowler and 5 great grandchildren: Rebecca and Lily Swenson, Janie Besse, Ethan Charles Kimmel and Nia Rietz Winsell. He is survived by his wife of 69 years and one brother, Earl Besse of Devils Lake, North Dakota. He is preceded in death by: his mother and father, 3 brothers (Lyle, Alfred and William) and two sisters (Gladys Pinkerman and Irene Eidem). Cass was always a farmer at heart! He loved his gardens and was a Master Gardener. He shared his vegetables with everyone he knew and volunteered his time to care for various beautification projects throughout the city. His hobbies were hunting and fishing. He was a member of Trinity Bergen Lutheran Church in Starkweather, North Dakota, and St. Olaf Lutheran Church of Devils Lake, North Dakota, where he was a member of the building committee and church council and president of the Board of Deacons. Cass was a member of Masons, Shriners, Odd Fellows and Elks lodges. He gave back to his community in many ways including his membership on the Ramsey County Fair Board and North Dakota Crop Improvement Board. He served as a director of the Lake Region Home Board and as an ambassador with the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce. In 1982, he was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Funeral Services will be held at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake, North Dakota at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 15, with Reverend Harold Ovre officiating. Visitation is from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 14, at Gilbertson Funeral Home with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment is at Devils Lake City Cemetery. Serving as Casket Bearers for Cass will be Dewey Wass, Blaine Wass, Albert Wood, Adam Besse, Lee Christopherson and Curtis Erickstad. Music will be provided by Russell and Lynda Pearson Memorials may be given to the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Building Fund, 601 6th St., Devils Lake, ND 58301.